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When you're a parent, you expect your child to suffer from the occasional bee sting. Spider bite. Cat scratch.
But no mom or dad could ever be prepared for what happened to a little boy in Northern California yesterday. While hiking at the Piccchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve with his parents, two more parents, and a group of kids -- 10 people in total -- a 6-year-old boy was reportedlyattacked and nearly dragged away by a mountain lion that appeared out of nowhere.
The boy's dad told police his son was walking about 10 feet ahead of the group when the deadly animal suddenly "came out of nowhere" and attacked him. Lt. Paul Foy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife says he was shocked to learn that the predator targeted a person who was with so many other people, but that it was likely he chose the boy the way he would have any other prey: the child was the smallest and weakest member of the group and the mountain lion pursued what he assumed was a sure thing.
If you just got chills up your spine and wondered what on Earth you would do if this happened to your little one, the good news is that the boy's dad and another man were able to do something that saved this child's life. Foy says they began shouting and acting aggressively toward the lion, which actually scared him, if you can believe it.
I would never, in a million years, think that would have worked, but thank goodness it did. I'm sure the next step would have been for this boy's dad to chase the mountain lion and try to distract him until he released his son, but doing so would have put him at risk instead.
The poor child is recovering at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and is said to be in fair condition. He suffered from bite wounds and scratches on his head and neck.
What do you think you would have done if you were the parent in this horrifying incident?
Image via Angell Williams/Flickr
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