Black bear attacks a sleeping boy at campsite

Black bear attacks a sleeping boy at campsite

An 11-year-old boy was attacked and killed by a black bear as he slept in a tent with his family.

The boy, sleeping alone in a section of the large tent, screamed before he was dragged away in his sleeping bag Sunday night in a canyon about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Salt Lake City, said sheriff's Lt. Dennis Harris.

The boy's body was found about 400 yards (366 meters) from the tent in the direction of another campsite where a bear sighting had been reported earlier in the weekend, Harris said.

Authorities were searching for the bear Monday.

American Fork Canyon is a popular camping destination. Harris said the family was camping about two miles (3 kilometers) up a dirt road from a popular campground.