Three New Jersey Boy Scouts were being hailed heroes Tuesday for setting in motion the rescue of a scoutmaster who was dragged into a cave and attacked by a bear.

The boys — all 13 years old — laid down food to lure out the black bear and calmly relayed the horrifying scene to 911 dispatchers after the animal set upon Christopher Petronino, 50, in woods surrounding the Split Rock Reservoir in Rockaway Township.

Petronino managed to fight off the beast with a rock hammer.

But bleeding from his head and shoulders, Petronino spent more than 80 frightening minutes playing dead inside the cave Sunday, with the bear remaining so close to him he could hear it breathing, authorities said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/3-n-boy-scouts-helped-save-scoutmaster-bear-article-1.2474211