Stranded hiker forced to eat his beloved dog to stay alive in wilderness

Marco Lavoie, killed and ate his beloved pet after a bear destroyed his canoe and food supply - leaving him 500 miles outside Montreal for three months.

The German Shepherd saved his life, chasing off a bear, just three days before Lavoie killed it with a rock, according to Canadian news agency QMI.

Lavoie was stranded alone for three months in a remote area of Canada and was found close to death by rescuers last Wednesday.

After the bear attack, he sprained his ankle so he was unable to hunt or find any other source of food.

Lavoie was rescued by helicopter on Wednesday. He had lost 90 pounds and was suffering from hypothermia. He is now in a critical condition in a hospital in Northern Quebec.

Survivalists say that Lavoie's decision to sacrifice his dearest companion likely saved his life.

'He was alone in the wilderness with no food for weeks. He had badly hurt his ankle as well, so he could not hunt for food. I suppose he thought he had no choice,' he said.

The 44-year-old hiker was in the midst of a lengthy solo climbing trip into the the forbidding Nottaway River wilderness when disaster struck.

Lavoie left his friends and family at home and took only his beloved German Shepherd for company.

In the midst of the long hike, a bear attacked him - destroying his canoe and the food supplied he brought with him.

'He is an experienced hiker, but he ran into serious trouble,' Mr Carbanneu said.

A bear is a really serious trouble.