A five-year-old boy has been seriously injured after he was mauled by a mountain lion and dragged away by his head.
The boy was with his family at Malibu Creek State Park, California, on Sunday, September 1, and was playing with a group of children when the mountain lion approached.
The animal clamped its jaws around the boy’s head and started dragging him away into the nearby woods.
“It was huge. The mountain lion was not scared at all,” his aunt told KTLA.
There were around 40 other people in the picnic area at Tapia park when the attack happened.
As the boy and onlookers screamed for help, his dad fought the mountain lion with his bare hands to save his son.
His aunt added: “Somebody screamed the baby’s name, and the dad started running.
“The father grabbed the mountain lion with his hands and he just fought and then the mountain lion let go.”
The boy was airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center where his injuries were assessed as non-life-threatening.
He suffered serious cuts and scratches to his face, and his eyes are understood to have been damaged during the attack.
The mountain lion was found in the area after the attack and it remained in a tree until State Parks rangers arrived.
It was killed by a ranger after it was deemed a danger to the public, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
DNA taken from the mountain lion matched samples taken from the boy’s wounds and clothing, confirming that they had killed the correct animal.
California State Parks are now investigating the attack.
A statement said: “California State Parks (State Parks) rangers and Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies responded to a report of a mountain lion attack at Malibu Creek State Park on Sunday, September 1, at 4.21pm.
“A family group from Woodland Hills was having a picnic at Malibu Creek State Park, consisting of at least six adults and a few children.
“The children were playing in the immediate vicinity of the family’s picnic table when a mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy, causing significant but non-life-threatening injuries.
“One or more adults charged at the lion, and it released the boy. Multiple witnesses saw the attack and observed the mountain lion climb up a nearby tree.
“The lion remained in the tree until State Parks rangers arrived. In consultation with CDFW wildlife officers, they deemed the mountain lion a threat to public safety and a ranger euthanized it via firearm.
“Per standard protocol, wildlife officers contacted the victim and family at the hospital to obtain evidence samples from the bite and scratch wounds and the victim’s clothing.
“Those evidence samples were confirmed a DNA match by CDFW’s Wildlife Forensic Lab in Sacramento.
“CDFW and State Parks officials are thankful that the family is safe, and the child is recovering and no one else was injured.”
