My niece was attacked by a bear so her granny fought it off with a watering can – she deserves a bravery award

A FIERCE gran fought off a raging bear with a watering can as it attacked her five-year-old granddaughter. Elena Kosach, 57, single-handedly took on the beast after it pounced on little Masha as she played in the family garden in Primorsky region, eastern Russia. East2WestMasha, five, pictured with her dad, is in hospital following the attack[/caption] East2WestElena Kosach, 57, battered the bear with a watering can[/caption] Armed with only a watering can, Elena raced into a “one-to-one fight” with the predator, according to her stunned relatives. She struck the mighty predator repeatedly to save Masha from being “torn to pieces”, Komsomolskaya Pravda reports. Eventually, the brown bear released the terrified youngster from the clutch of its paws. Elena then yelled at the scared beast as it fled into the forest in Yakovlevsky district. Read more world news CROC SHOCK Moment croc attacks man & tries to drag him away after he hurled stones at beast BEAR KNUCKLE FIGHT Moment mama sloth bear gets in savage fight with TIGER defending her cub The bear is now being hunted by armed rangers to prevent a repeat attack. Quick-thinking grandmother Elena also saved her daughter Yekaterina Podlozhnyuk, 32, Masha’s mother, who stood nearby clutching her newborn baby. Elena’s other daughter Ksenia said that as she fought the bear, she shouted to Yekaterina to hide in the house with the baby boy.  Both Masha and her gran are now in hospital with claw gashes from the predator, a young bear which stood at about 5ft 8 inches on its hind legs.  Most read in The Sun NOW UC ME Date millions of households will get first part of £650 cost of living payment REDDIES TO RUMBLE Fury makes £200m retirement U-turn with Gyspy King training for AJ payday SOUR TASTE Just ONE popular drink a day ‘increases risk of liver cancer by 78%’ KILLER CRASH 3 killed after van 'driving wrong way' crashes into taxi as boy, 15, arrested POO PETER This Morning's stars gag in horror as they open Blue Peter's famous time capsule PHIL US IN! Here are the weird Love Island things producers control, says Shaughna Phillips The girl suffered head and neck wounds, and is with her father Yegor, 38, in a hospital ward.  Elena had a deep arm wound after her battle with the beast.  Ksenia has said her mum deserves a bravery award for saving her niece. The 27-year-old said: “She works in an orphanage, and is especially sensitive to children. “She is ready to give her life in the case of danger to others.  “Of course, if not for my mother, people would have died.” Ksenia has applied to the governor of Primorsky region, Oleg Kozhemyako, seeking an award for her mother.  She added: “I hope it is not only us who recognise her as a heroine.” “My mum deserves an award for saving people’s lives.  Read More on The Sun BABES IN ARMS I have 6 children but 4 aren't real - many don't understand the joy it brings PUPPY MAULING My girl, 2, was mutilated by our PUPPIES in horror attack - I blamed myself “We, her relatives, believe that she accomplished a real feat.” It is likely the young bear had been orphaned, and this is why it behaved so aggressively, according to local reports. East2WestMasha was left with head and neck wounds[/caption] East2WestThe gran was left with deep gash wounds from the bear[/caption] East2WestMasha was attacked by a young brown bear. Stock pic[/caption]