Carl Isom-McDaniel, a grandfather visiting Yellowstone National Park with his grandson, has been identified as the tourist who was flung approximately eight feet into the air by a bull bison on Friday night. The incident occurred at the Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake.
Despite suffering multiple broken bones, Isom-McDaniel maintained a good spirits and made jokes about his encounter while awaiting a park ambulance, according to photographer Mike MacLeod, who captured the event. "He was in a lot of pain with his leg, and otherwise he was conscious the whole time, in good spirits, joking," MacLeod told The New York Times.
According to MacLeod, neither Isom-McDaniel nor his grandson provoked the animal. The bison, possibly agitated by the start of the mating season, had reportedly menaced other visitors earlier that evening before charging Isom-McDaniel and his grandson. The pair had stopped to take pictures of the bison, which was resting in the dirt near a campground road.
When the bison stood up and appeared agitated, Isom-McDaniel indicated to his grandson that they should leave. While the grandson managed to evade the charging animal, Isom-McDaniel was unable to escape and was gored and tossed by the bison.
MacLeod intervened by running towards the bison, yelling and jumping to appear larger, a tactic that was joined by other park visitors. The photographer believes this action eventually caused the bison to flee the area. Tourists remained with Isom-McDaniel until a park ambulance arrived about 10 minutes later to transport him to a hospital for treatment.
Yellowstone National Park regulations advise visitors to maintain a distance of at least 75 feet from bison, especially during mating season. MacLeod stated that the visitors he observed, including Isom-McDaniel, appeared to be keeping a respectful distance from the animal.