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Harrowing video caught the moment a man bravely fended off a grizzly bear by whacking it around the head while walking his dogs with his girlfriend.

The clip shows the man slap the beast, which looks to be a North American brown bear, which seemed to be hiding in a barn on his property.

Walking behind the man is a woman, believed to be his girlfriend, who looked dumbfounded as the bear leaped out of the barn during the heart-pounding footage.

When the grizzly bear suddenly bursts into frame, the unidentified man spots the invading beast and quickly seems to think of a way to deter it from advancing on his family.

After a few attempts, the man - leash in-hand - throws a leaping right hook at the advancing animal, stopping it in it tracks.

The glancing blow seemed to stun the bear - along with the man's stupefied partner, who is seen standing in awe of the man's heroic effort as the bear cowers and runs away.