A BOXER has been left in a “grave” condition after fighting off and stabbing to death a brown bear that had killed his friend, according to reports.

       Ilya Medvedev, 23, was forced to defend himself just moments after witnessing the death of pal Vyacheslav ‘Slava’ Dudnik, 48, during a fishing trip on the Irtysh River in Russia.

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       Ilya Medvedev has been left in a grave condition after engaging in a fight with a bear Credit: East2West 4

       The huge beast, believed to be a brown bear, had jumped the 23-year-old and his friend on a fishing trip. Credit: East2West

       Reports suggest that the raging beast had mauled the elder man to death, before quickly launching an offensive on the professional boxer.

       Another fisherman Denis Chebotar, 41, was securing their small boat on the river banks at the time, when he was alerted to the chaotic scenes unfolding - hearing screams and desperate shouts of - “A bear!”

       He said: “I heard screams. They shouted: ‘A bear!”

       “And that's all... then shots.

       “When I reached the spot, I saw Slava dead.”

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       The boxer, who has taken part in the national competitions, had initially tried to shoot the beast in a desperate attempt to defend himself.

       However, after the huge bear had knocked the gun out of his hands, he was forced to “finish it off with knife.”

       “He had time to shoot twice, then obviously retreated, recharged, and made two more shots,” onlooker Chebotar explained.

       “The fifth cartridge was not completely into the chamber. He had no time.”

       After miraculously defeating the brown bear, which can weigh up to 600kg, Chebotar dragged the “barely alive” boxer to the boat and delivered him to the nearest hospital.

       The 23-year-old is now in intensive care having suffered lacerated injuries to the head and body, according to reports from Uvatsky district, Tyumen.

       Meanwhile, criminal investigators have begun a probe into incident.

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       Vyacheslav ‘Slava’ Dudnik, 48 was killed instantly by the 600kg mammal near the Irtysh River in Russia Credit: East2West 4

       But Medvedev, who is a gold medal winning fighter, survived the ordeal and remains in intensive care Credit: East2West

       Bear mauls Indian farmer to death and EATS his remains during horrific attack that left second man with serious facial injuries

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