Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko is taking a leave of absence following the death of his father, Alexander Kuzmenko, who died in a bear attack in Siberia, the team announced Thursday.

According to reports from Russian media, Alexander Kuzmenko, 62, was on a fishing trip in the Tuva Republic, a federal subject of Russia, when he was attacked by a bear. The incident occurred while he was accompanied by six others. The bear inflicted severe injuries to his head, causing significant tissue damage.

The group intervened to separate the bear from Alexander Kuzmenko, who was then airlifted to a local hospital in Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva Republic. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas expressed the organization’s condolences in a statement, saying the team was deeply saddened by the loss. “Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander,” Dubas remarked.

Alexander Kuzmenko was known as a hockey coach in Russia, and his death has prompted an outpouring of support for his son, who has stepped away from team activities to cope with the tragedy. The circumstances of the attack highlight ongoing safety concerns in remote areas of Siberia where encounters with wildlife, including bears, remain a hazard.