A hiker has been found dead in northern Japan a day after a bear attacked and dragged him into the forest.
The victim, who was in his 20s, tried to fight off the large animal but was pulled into the nearby woods with his legs bleeding profusely, according to local media outlets, including the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
He was initially reported as missing on Thursday by a second man, who was hiking alongside him on Mount Rausu, situated on the northern island of Hokkaido, according to Japan Today.
Authorities were notified around 11.10am by the companion, who was also confronted by the bear at an altitude of 550 metres, but managed to escape unharmed.
A search and rescue mission was launched and on Friday afternoon the victim was found and taken to hospital where he was officially pronounced dead, according to a Hokkaido government official.
