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Pig Attacks Man, Woman At Townsend Farm

TOWNSEND (CBS) - A 50-year-old man is fighting for his life after he was attacked by a pig at his farm in Townsend Tuesday night.

The pig also attacked and injured the farmer's 38-year-old wife earlier in the night.

Police say the victims own the farm on Fitchburg Road. They both suffered serious lacerations to their upper body.

The strange story unfolded just before 6 p.m. with a 911 call after the farmer's wife was attacked by a boar and suffered serious lacerations. She was taken by ambulance to Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster. Then just 90 minutes later, police received another emergency call from the same farm after the man, fresh off escorting his injured wife to the hospital and then returning to the farm, was attacked and bitten by the very same boar. The pig's teeth severed a major artery in his arm, and in the process of staggering out to the street, the man nearly bled to death.

Townsend pig
A pig attacked a man and woman at a Townsend farm (WBZ-TV)

Due to the severity of the man's injuries, a medical helicopter was requested, but could not fly due to weather conditions. He was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center.

"The Townsend Police Department is investigating two very unfortunate farm incidents involving an animal attacking two people in the same day," Townsend Police Chief Robert Eaton said. "We will be working closely with our partners in the animal control and veterinary world to determine the best course of action."

There were no witnesses to either attack so police are not sure what caused the pig to attack.

The animal, an 150-pound boar, or male pig, has been quarantined pending further evaluation on Wednesday.

The victims have not been identified.

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