Dec. 6 (UPI) — A man is recovering in the hospital from injuries sustained while fighting a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled in northern Ontario, Canadian authorities said.

The incident happened early Tuesday in Fort Severn First Nation, located along the coast of the Hudson Bay.

Local police said the couple had exited their home at 5 a.m. local time to find their dogs when a polar bear lunged at the woman in their driveway.

“The woman slipped to [the] ground as her husband leapt onto the animal to prevent its attack. The bear then attacked the male, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and legs,” Nishnawbe Aski Police Service said in a statement.

During the attack, a neighbor responded with a firearm and opened fire on the bear. The unidentified neighbor hit the animal several times, forcing it to retreat into the woods, where it died from its injuries.

Police were dispatched to the residence following reports of gunfire and located the deceased bear. The injured husband had already been transported to a community nursing station to receive medical attention.

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service said it will continue to patrol the area to ensure no other bears pose a threat to the community.