Mexican mother shields son from bear as it eats birthday picnic

Silvia Macias travelled to the Chipinque Park on the outskirts of the northern city of Monterrey to celebrate the 15th birthday of her son

A black bear ate the family’s picnic (Joe Giddens/PA)

A Mexican mother bravely shielded her son after a bear leapt on a picnic table and devoured the tacos and enchiladas meant for the boy’s birthday dinner, inches from his face.

Silvia Macias, of Mexico City, had travelled to the Chipinque Park on the outskirts of the northern city of Monterrey to celebrate the 15th birthday of her son, Santiago, who has Down’s syndrome.