A man was critically injured in an attack by a large black bear while he was picking herbs on a mountainside in northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province.

The man identified Li Jianyong, 48, who was bitten repeatedly and so seriously that his bones were exposed by the wounds, remained in critical condition with his life hanging in the balance for three days after the attack last Friday, the report said.

Li told officials he heard a roar as he was concentrating on walking along a path, and found a black bear which weighed about 250 kilograms blocking his way. He was about to run when the bear grabbed him and threw him to the ground.

The bear thrashed him around, leaving serious bites on his thigh and head.

On the way to the hospital, his blood pressure was so low it could not be detected.

It is rare to see bears emerge on the mountain, according to a relative of the victim.

Li was laid off from his job with the forestry department and lives on farming and picking herbs to support his child, who studies at a university, said the report.

His medical care cost 30,000 yuan (US$4,886), while the annual family income is less than 20,000 yuan.

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