A doctor has revealed the truth behind the story about an emaciated man who claimed he had been attacked by a bear in Russia before being stored as food for a month.
It was previously claimed the man, named only as Alexander P, was found by hunting dogs roughly one month after he was overpowered by the predator in Russia’s remote Tuva region.
Horrific images showed the emaciated man covered in lacerations as he lay in hospital.
However, it has now been claimed he was not attacked by a bear and is in fact being treated at a hospital in Kazakhstan.
Dr Rustam Isaev, who said he is treating the man, insists that his 41-year-old patient was never attacked by a wild beast but instead suffered from chronic psoriasis and other complications.
Another version from Sochi also suggested that he had been found alive in a coffin - which Dr Isaev said was not true either.
A harrowing video showing the 41-year-old man looking emaciated and suffering from several injuries went viral this week.
Moscow media reported it showed a victim with a broken spine and severe body injuries after being attacked by a bear and kept in the predator's lair the Tuva region of Russia, said a report from EADaily news agency.
But the doctor from Kazakhstan said this account was false and the man had not been in Russia nor encountered a wild beast.
People also noticed that voices in the background were speaking speaking Kazakh not the local Tuvan tongue in the region where the haggard victim was supposedly found.
Dr Isaev said Alexander was being treated at the Aktobe Medical Centre in Kazakhstan - around 1,600 miles away from where he was said to have been found in a Russian bear den.
And he said he lived in Aktobe city in Kazakhstan.
The man had been illegally filmed by medics and the footage released on the web, he said, vowing to find and 'fire' those responsible, reports he Mailonline .
He added: "As chief doctor here I'm saying this is our guy he is not from Tuva nor anywhere else in Russia.
"He was treated in our hospital and at the end of this week was discharged, in satisfactory condition, into his mother's care.
"He had been lying at home, suffering from apathy, he did not want to live. He was in a depressive state."
He said the man had got into "such a state" after failing to look after his skin condition and was admitted to hospital about a week ago.
He was also suffering from bedsores, Dr Isaev said.
He also said the man's mother is very upset about the video and does not want any further information released about her son.
It was important to stop the 'rumours', he said.
Neighbours also confirmed his identity and medical condition and told reporters
The man graduated from Aktobe State University in 1998.
While he was in hospital, he told visitors that his mother and girlfriend were visiting him in hospital.
