A Yellowstone National Park vacation took a frightening turn for an Arizona couple when a bison charged and severely injured the woman. Chris Whitehill and his fiancée, Amber Harris, were enjoying their first day in the park, strolling near Lake Yellowstone after getting coffee, when they encountered two bison roughly 50-60 yards away. According to Whitehill's account to FOX10 Phoenix, one of the bison suddenly became aggressive, pawing the ground before charging directly at Harris. The impact sent her flying 8-10 feet into the air, landing hard on her back.

The 47-year-old Harris sustained serious injuries, including seven fractured vertebrae and two partially collapsed lungs, requiring an airlift to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Whitehill described the ordeal as "the most difficult thing I’ve witnessed" and anticipates a long recovery for his fiancée. He also shared the story with NBC’s "Today," characterizing the event as a "freak accident" and describing how the bison's impact launched Harris into the air.

This incident follows another bison attack just days earlier at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, where a Minnesota woman suffered significant abdominal and foot injuries. Park officials emphasize the importance of maintaining a safe distance from wildlife, particularly bison, which are known for their unpredictable behavior and speed. They are urging visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from all animals, especially during mating season (mid-July to mid-August) when bison are more easily agitated. Yellowstone officials have stated that bison cause more injuries to park visitors than any other animal.