LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A man that was attacked by a black bear in Franklin County earlier this month has died, according to Keith Stephens with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC).

Vernon Patton, who was in his 70s, was reportedly working on a tractor on the side of the road when he was attacked by the bear on Sept. 3. The incident occurred on Mulberry Mountain Lodge property near Highway 23.

He was airlifted to a hospital with severe injuries on the day of the attack. On Sept. 9, the family shared that he was in the ICU and they believed his injuries were " ultimately not survivable ."

Stephens confirmed Patton died on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Officials with AGFC called the attack unprovoked and rare.

"It is exceedingly rare to have a black bear attack on a human... It's not something t

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