Arkansas black bear attack: 72-year-old Vernon Patton dies from injuries after rare bear mauling

A 72-year-old Arkansas man has died following a severe attack by a juvenile black bear earlier this month, his family and state officials confirmed.

Vernon Patton of Ozark, Arkansas, died Sunday, September 14, nearly two weeks after being mauled while working on a road in the Mulberry Mountain area on September 3, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Before his passing, Mr Patton was moved to hospice care in Springdale.

The initial attack occurred as Mr Patton was spreading gravel when his son arrived to find him under attack by a roughly 31kg male juvenile bear.

The bear inflicted “severe cuts and puncture wounds to his head and arms,” a spokesperson told USA Today.

Mr Patton’s family had expressed doubts about his ability to survive, saying, “Our beloved father, grandfather, husband and hero, Vernon Patton, was seriously injured in a bear attack while he was doing what he loved, working on his land with his family,” as reported by KHBS.

“Vernon is currently being cared for in the ICU in Little Rock. While he remains in stable condition, his injuries are extensive and ultimately not survivable,” the family added in an earlier statement.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission noted this attack is highly unusual, as there have been no documented bear attacks in Arkansas for at least 25 years.

The juvenile bear was killed following the incident, and tests showed it was negative for rabies and distemper.

Black bears in North America kill less than one person annually on average, according to the North American Bear Centre.