55-year-old man mauled by sloth bear in northern India

A 55-year-old man was saved from a violent bear attack by a brave passerby in the north Indian state of Kashmir.

The incident took place on the morning of July 9 in the Shoplian Khag area of central Kashmir's Budgam district.

Ghulam Qadir Sheikh, a resident of Shoplian Khag, left his home on his way to work when he was attacked by a sloth bear, leaving him severely injured.

Footage of the attack shows the blear clasping the man as he struggles to free himself from its grip and struggled for air.

A passer-by, who spotted Ghulam in the deadly situation, beat at the bear with a stick until it dropped Ghulam and fled.

Ghulam was then rushed to the nearby hospital from where he was later referred to Srinagar for better treatment.