Man strangles cougar to death after attack

Wild cat attacked the man on a Colorado mountain trail

A man killed a mountain lion after it attacked him on a Colorado mountain trail, BBC reported.

Parks and Wildlife officials say the man was bitten on the face and wrist and sustained serious injuries.

The victim "described hearing something behind him on the trail and was attacked by a mountain lion as he turned around to investigate," according to an official statement.



"The lion lunged at the runner, biting his face and wrist. He was able to fight and break free from the lion, killing the lion in self-defence."

Officials confirmed the juvenile male cat, weighing around 36kg, died from suffocation.

"The runner did everything he could to save his life," said Mark Leslie, CPW's Northeast Region manager, who did not say exactly how the runner killed the animal.

"In the event of a lion attack, you need to do anything in your power to fight back just as this gentleman did."

Cougar attacks are rare in North America and the wildlife organisation says less than 12 people have been killed in such attacks in the last ten years.

This article originally appeared on BBC.