An elderly man has woken from a coma and regained vital functions after being seriously injured in a freak accident in Piacatu, São Paulo.

The 72-year-old retiree became quadriplegic after being knocked to the ground by a dog running loose in the street. The incident occurred on July 7 and was captured by a nearby security camera.

The footage shows the man walking along the road when two dogs suddenly ran toward him. One of them collided with his legs, causing him to fall heavily and hit his head on the pavement.

He was immediately helped by bystanders and taken to a local emergency unit, where he received ten stitches to his head. He was later transferred to Bilac, São Paulo, where scans revealed a fractured nose, before being moved to Santa Casa de Araçatuba for further treatment.

Doctors reported that the man completely lost motor and sensory function from the neck down and relies on ventilators to breathe. He remains hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit, though his medical team is considering a transfer to a specialized intermediate care facility.

The dog’s owner told the victim’s family that the animal had escaped accidentally and was not used to being outside. The owner is reportedly cooperating with the family and providing assistance.