A man was attacked by a bear near his home in North Carolina and required three hours of treatment by a special facial plastic surgeon to stitch up the wound, WLOS reported Monday.

Bill Pallas was attacked by a bear early July 7 while enjoying his 30-year-old hobby of running trails near his home in Asheville, near Pisgah National Forest. WLOS report. Pallas said he regularly sees wildlife.

According to the exit, Pallas saw the cub on Michigami earlier that day as he was about to turn a ridge along a trail. “When I see a bear cub, there’s usually a mother around. I turn around quickly and there’s the mother bear,” said KCRA. report. The cub reportedly ran up a ridge and her mother landed on Pallas.

“She’s standing on her hind legs, and here’s this head – her head must have been the size of a basketball – and here it is,” Pallas said. noted KMBC.. The bear reportedly punched him in the face and chest. He tried to hit the bear, but his hand went into the bear’s mouth. According to the newspaper, the bear laid the man on his back and left him alone. (Related: Woman’s body found in national park after ‘bear encounter’)

“She’s standing on her hind legs, and here’s this head – her head must have been the size of a basketball – and here it is. She picked up a claw and scraped it into my face and chest.”https://t.co/JoYdylfOHw

— WLOS (@WLOS_13) July 25, 2023

“I was running with adrenaline and shock,” Pallas said. He went home and his wife rushed him to the hospital. The hospital had to bring in a special facial plastic surgeon, who “spent three hours stitching me up,” the paper reported.

“I feel really lucky just to be with you, which means you get to see these 3 inch razor nails right up your face,” he added. “Well, it’s just surreal.”

Since the assault and recovery, Pallas has reportedly hit the trails again without flinching.

“I’m definitely confident in the streets of the wilderness now, because how many people do you know who have been attacked by bears?” he asked.