Hero dad pries son, 5, from jaws of mountain lion that grabbed him at Malibu State Creek Park
A California family’s idyllic Labor Day picnic turned into a nightmare when their young son was attacked by a mountain lion — only to be rescued when his dad fought off the big cat.
The heart-pounding encounter took place just before 4:30 p.m. Sunday, as the bꦜoy’s family was relaxing at the Tapia Day Use Area of the Malibu State Creek Park in Calabasas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said๊.
At least six adults and several children were at the picnic when a mo♏untain lion grabbed the 5-year-old boy by the head and starte𝐆d to run, .
“Somebody screamed the baby’s name, and his dad started running,” the victim’s aunt told the outle♈t.
“The f🍸ather grabbed the mountain lion with his hands, and he just fought. Then the mo𓂃untain lion let go.”
About 40 onlookers watched the terrifying encounter — with some telling KTLA that the mountain lion looked completely unafraid during the attack.
𓄧Male mountain lioཧns can weigh up to 150 pounds and be up to 8 feet long.
The boy was airlifted to Nort🅰hridge Hospital Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildli♛fe.
H𓃲e was released late Sunday, but returned꧙ to the hospital Monday due to complications with injuries to his eyes, KTLA said.
When California State Park rangers and CDFW officers responded to the scene of the attack, the mountain lion was crouched up in a tree near aꦕ picnic area.
The animal was deemed ꦑa threat to public safety, an♋d was euthanized by a ranger, the CDFW said.
W༺ildlife officers also collected evidence of th♐e attack from the boy’s injury, including DNA swabs from the bite marks that were matched to the mountain lion.
“CDFW and State Park officials are thankful that the�𝔍� family is safe, and the child is recovering and no one else was injured,” the CDFW said in a statement.
