A father has been called a hero after intervening when his child was attacked and bitten by a mountain lion.
According to a press release by the National Park Service, the incident occurred on Sunday at the Victoria Overlook area on Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. The release explains that a collared mountain lion bit a child as they were walking with their family on a trail. Rangers received a call about the incident that afternoon at around 3:15 PM.
Authorities do not reveal the identity of the family, but say emergency services transported the child to a “Level 1 Trauma Center” using LifeFlight. The new release clarifies that the child was receiving treatment at a hospital in Seattle. Rangers reportedly began hunting for the cougar after the incident. They used a K9 unit and tracked it down later on Sunday. The National Park Service concludes, “Park staff located and dispatched the animal on July 21.” They claim there is no danger to the public.
News outlet KIRO 7 reveals more details about incident. They interviewed Steve Murrow, who was hiking with his family on Hurricane Trail at the time. He said he and his father-in-law “heard like screaming of a small child.”
The Hiker Believes The Child Would Not Have Survived The Lion Attack If The Father Did Not Intervene
Murrow reportedly called the child’s father a hero. He is convinced the outcome would have been different if he hadn’t approached the lion. “I don’t think that kid would survive if it wasn’t for his dad jumping in. I mean, he’s a hero. You know, it just boils down to safety in numbers, and it is rare that something like this would happen,” he said.
Earlier this month, a woman was bitten by a lion at Darling Downs Zoo in Australia. The lion severely injured her arm, and emergency services airlifted her to a hospital in Brisbane. The Zoo provided several updates on social media and explained that the woman ultimately lost her arm. The establishment later revealed that the victim was one of the Zoo owner’s family members. They stressed that authorities would not put down or punish the animal after the attack.