Son wrestles moose to save Mom in Sask. showdown

Angie Tuffnell faced bone-chilling winds in Bienfait, Sask., with a wind chill of –40 as she went outside to start her car, just like any other day until an unexpected turn of events.

Her son, Shawn Tuffnell, rushed downstairs upon hearing her screams and witnessed a moose looming over her.

A famished and freezing moose sought warmth by the house, nestled near a dryer vent, before it turned aggressive towards Angie. 

In a frantic turn of events, Shawn bravely confronted the moose head-on by instinct.

Recalling the intense moment, Shawn told CBC’s The 306, “Without much thought, I went out and delivered a direct punch to its face.”

The punch caused a split lip on the animal, but it continued its attack, narrowly missing Shawn’s face as it lunged. Despite striking the moose with a shovel three times, it persisted in its aggression. 

Retreating into the house, Shawn found the moose following closely, pushing its shoulders through the doorframe.

“It was inside the house, trying to reach me,” Shawn recounted.

When the moose turned back to Angie, still trapped on the frozen ground, Shawn took drastic action, grabbing the moose by its ears and nostrils. He managed to wrestle the moose into a headlock, holding its jaw against his stomach to prevent bites, using the doorframe as a shield against its hooves.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Shawn stated, “I wasn’t concerned about my well-being; my sole focus was blinding the moose to prevent further harm to my mother.”

Survival Instinct

The harrowing ordeal concluded when Angie’s boyfriend arrived with a .22-calibre rifle. Shawn took charge of the gun, firing multiple rounds to subdue the moose.

He initially targeted the moose’s eye to divert its attention from Angie, reloading the rifle afterward. 

“After approximately 15 shots, I finally brought it down,” Shawn recounted. 

WATCH | Shawn Tuffnell recounts his battle with a moose to save his mother:

This Sask. man wrestled and shot a starving moose to save his mom

February 10|

Duration 2:46

WARNING: This video contains graphic images. Shawn Tuffnell acted swiftly to protect his mother, Angie, from a starving and cold moose near Bienfait, Sask.

A subsequent post-mortem examination by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative revealed that the moose succumbed to “multiple gunshot wounds to the head,” including a fatal shot penetrating its brain.