Man mauled by bear in front of screaming pals after teasing it with food (Photos)

An enormous bear mauled a man within an ‘inch of his life’ after he allegedly teased with the beast by dangling foodjaws.

Naiphum Promratee, 36, was reportedly seen holding a bowl of rice above the huge bear before it suddenly snatched him into its enclosure.

The animal knocked him unconscious as it dragged him back towards its cage – before the man’s screaming pals rushed in and managed to save him.

Naiphum had been with four friends when he decided to visit the temple in rural Phetchabun province, Thailand, this morning.

The monks keep around two dozen wild boars in a small enclosure and a bear in a cage which they care for and allow guests to feed.

Naiphum – responding to an appeal for food donations for the animals – arrived and leaned against a surrounding wall while reaching into the enclosure to feed the bear by dangling bowls of rice from the end of a rope.

But the angry bear stood on its legs and grabbed Naiphum, dragging him into the enclosure, knocking him unconscious before tearing a lump from his armpit.

Horrific footage shows the bear pinning him to the ground and mauling him while screaming friends poke the bear with poles.

They threw water at the bear, which chillingly walks away dragging Naiphum in its mouth back to its cage as it prepares to feast on him.

But one of the group ran into the enclosure and battered the bear in its cage with a pole while friends rescued Naiphum.

Emergency services arrived just after 11am local time. Naiphum was rushed to hospital where he is now recovering and able to talk.