Quick-thinking dad battles mountain lion, saves 5-year-old son from terrifying attack | Trending

A mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy at a popular Southern California park over the holiday weekend and state rangers later euthanized the big cat. During the attack, the boy’s father bravely fought the lion to save his son. A 5-year-old was attacked a mountain lion. (File Photo) The child was attacked Sunday afternoon while playing near his family’s picnic table at Malibu Creek State Park west of Los Angeles, according to a statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. What happened during the incident?The 5-year-old was at the picnic with at least six adults and several kids when a mountain lion grabbed him the head and took off. The victim’s aunt, who wished to remain anonymous, discussed the incident over the phone with KTLA’s correspondent. She told KTLA, “Somebody screamed the ba’s name, and his dad started running. The father grabbed the mountain lion with his hands, and he just fought. Then the mountain lion let go.” (Also Read: A man who survived a California mountain lion attack that killed his brother is expected to recover) In a statement California Department of Fish and Wildlife, they informed, “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 near tree.” The child was airlifted to a hospital with injuries that were significant but not life-threatening, according to the statement. He was released Monday. How was the wild animal euthanized?The cougar remained in the tree until state parks rangers arrived and determined it was a threat to the public. The animal was euthanized with a firearm, officials said. Mountain lions rarely attack people. About 20 attacks have been confirmed in California in more than a century of record-keeping, and only three have been fatal, the Fish and Wildlife department said earlier this year. In March, two adult brothers who were attacked, one fatally, a mountain lion in Northern California tried to scare the cougar away once they realized it was stalking them, and then fought with the animal after it pounced. In September 2023, a 7-year-old boy was bitten a mountain lion while walking with his father around dusk in a park near Santa Clarita north of Los Angeles. The father scared the animal away, and the child was treated for relatively minor wounds.