TOO LOUD TO BEAR

Hiking vet owes his life' to Scots comic after he scares predator away by playing podcast at full volume

- PAUL ENGLISH

A VET has told how a Scots comedian helped save his life when he was confronted by a bear while hiking in mountains in northern California. 

Iain McAllister, 60, was walking on the famous 2650mile Pacific Crest Trail when he was faced down by the animal last Thursday.

The startled dad of two says he “owes his life” to an unlikely friend thousands of miles away – Glasgow comic Raymond Mearns.

Iain had been walking for 10 hours in Plumas National Forest and was listening to BBC Radio Scotland’s Breaking the News featuring Raymond and hosted by Des Clarke at full blast on his phone when the bear appeared.

Iain, who wasn’t wearing headphones, said: “Raymond Mearns had just started on a hilarious story of things he had achieved at 20, when a bear jumped onto the trail about 50 yards in front of me.