A 72-year-old Ozark man is in stable condition at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock after being attacked Wednesday by a 70-pound black bear in Franklin County.

Keith Stephens, a spokesman for Arkansas Game & Fish, identified the victim as Vernon Patton.

Patton was flown to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville on Wednesday afternoon and had surgery there, Stephens said. Patton was flown again on Thursday, to UAMS.

Spencer Daniels, the large carnivore program coordinator for Game & Fish, said the victim was out working on his tractor, laying gravel for a trail, when he was attacked.

"His son was out working with him," said Daniels. "He went to go check on him, and when he walked up, his dad was out of the tractor, on his back, covering his face.

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