A 72-year-old man attacked by a bear in northwest Arkansas earlier this month died over the weekend, officials said on Monday, Sept. 15.

Keith Stephens, spokesperson for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), told USA TODAY that Vernon Pattan, who had been in hospice care after he was attacked, died on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Patton of Ozark was critically injured in the bear attack while he was on a tractor on Sept. 3, in rural Franklin County.

The mauling marked the first known bear attack in Arkansas in a quarter century, according to Stephens.

Man attacked by bear on a lawnmower had undergone surgery

The unusual encounter took place as Patton rode a tractor near Mulberry Mountain along State Highway 23, also known as Pig Trail Scenic Byway, AGFC reported.

Patton's son reportedly found him being attacked by a yearling male black bear weighing approximately 70 pounds.

A witness reported that the bear was “in the process of attacking” Patton when his son showed up and began throwing rocks at the animal, according to The Arkansas Times.

Game wardens responded to the scene and fatally shot the animal, officials said.

Patton was transported to Washington Regional in Fayetteville for surgery the day of the attack, then later moved to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center in Little Rock, officials said.

Patton's injuries had been described as "extensive and ultimately not survivable," TV station KHBS reported, citing the victim's son, who witnessed the mauling.

Did the bear have rabies or distemper?

Samples collected from the bear were sent to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the Arkansas Department of Health to test for distemper and rabies.

Stephens said the bear tested negative for both.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elderly man dies after bear attacks him on lawnmower

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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