A man identified as Juan Fernandez of Modesto, California, died on Wednesday after he and his mother, who suffered injuries and is now in a coma, were attacked by four pit bulls.

59-year-old Fernandez reportedly died from traumatic injuries shortly after the attack, reports Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson. The sheriff added that he has never seen such a level of viciousness in any animal, hinting that the injuries sustained by the mother and son were unimaginable.

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The sheriff added that the mother of Fernandez, Maria, who is 77-years-old, is in critical condition now and has been in a medically induced coma in the hospital she was brought to.

The attack reportedly happened Tuesday evening at their home when the pit bulls allegedly escaped from the home of their neighbour, Christianson explained.

Witnesses called the authorities and when the deputies arrived in the area, three pit bulls were still mauling the man while the fourth dog was circling the victim. The attack was said to have happened in Fernandez's backyard.

The authorities noted that Fernandez was already unconscious and could not defend himself against the dogs. This then prompted authorities to shoot two of the dogs, who were killed on the spot, while the two others ran to a nearby yard.

Officials then surrounded the area in order to assure the safety of other people in the neighbourhood. The two dogs attempted to charge the deputies, thus prompting them to shoot and eventually kill them.

The officials also searched the home of Fernandez and that's when they found out that his mother had also been attacked. However, details of how the mother was mauled were not released.

The mother and the son were taken immediately to a nearby hospital, however, Fernandez was pronounced dead upon arrival.

As for the people who owned the dogs, they have already been identified but officials did not release their names to the public. 

TagsPit bulls, man killed, mauled to death, california, mother in a coma, Juan Fernandez, dog mauling, dog attack