Posted on 09/06/2009 7:48:22 AM PDT by Daffynition
VANCOUVERThe father of a 5-year-old British Columbia boy who was attacked by a cougar in Washington state says his son is recovering well from the traumatic ordeal.
Mark Impey was on a hike with his wife and two children in Colville National Forest on Wednesday when he was faced with the most terrifying ten seconds of his life.
Impey and his daughter were walking about 50 metres ahead of his wife and son when he was startled by their screams.
At first, Impey assumed they had stepped on a wasp nest. But when he ran back to check, he saw that a big cat had his son, Simon, by the head and his wife, Dawn, was trying furiously to fend the animal off with a metal water bottle.
"I really think it was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," Impey said in an interview.
Dawn's repeated blows with the water bottle finally forced the cougar to retreat into the bush.
But it was then that Impey saw Simon's face and Dawn's hands both covered in blood.
"We were quite frightened," he said. "We picked up sticks, I put Simon on my shoulders and we carried him down (to the car)."
It took about an hour to hike back to the vehicle and Impey says his brave little boy didn't cry or complain once. What he didn't realize, however, was that the cougar stalked him and his family all the way back to their car, say conservation officials.
Impey headed for the nearby border crossing and honked his way ahead of two waiting cars.
"I got out of the car and told them it was an emergency and they backed up," he said. "I gave the border guard our passports and told him to tell the hospital we were coming and he waved us through."
Relief came soon after reaching the hospital. "Right away, they determined it wasn't life-threatening and that calmed us down," he said.
He said Simon is doing well, though he is a little self-conscious about his head wounds and new haircut.
"He's happy and is being quite active and is quite calm about the whole thing."
Simon Impey's father says the 5-year-old didn't cry once while en route for help after the attack in Washington state.
Wow, brave boy.
And here I was expecting this thread to have a much different plot. I need a spankin.
That whole family has guts in abundance. And thank God there was no border SNAFU on this occasion.
Thank you Lord.
Yes you do. Sadly, I was thinking the same thing.
Here’s the faulty premise of Canadians, and a warning to all Americans:
“We were quite frightened,” he said. “We picked up sticks, ...”
Guns are better than sticks.
Fight cultural devolution - get rid of YOUR Canadian socialism, make CCW permits a matter of right, and carry, always.
Jefferson was correct - “it is their right and duty to be at all times armed”.
Ashton Kutcher’s mom?
Someone was watching out for the lil’ tike. So many of these cougar stories don’t have happy endings.
True.
But even in this country there is a mindset by some liberals.
For instance there is the case where a mountain lion attacked a bicyclist in Orange County park California in 2004. The second bicyclist (probably a liberal) tried to help her friend who was in the clutches of the animal by simply grabbing on to her feet and tugging her (instead of actually attacking the cat, say with her bicycle across the cat's head).
It took a third and fourth bicyclist to come along and attack the Mountain Lion with rocks before the animal finally let go.
At least in this latest case, the mother went right after the cat.
People forget that an UNARMED HUMAN is easy meat on the table for many predators. Let me think, uh, a pack of wolves, any kind of bear, a pack of coyotes, wolverines, cougars, bobcats, wild dogs (three dogs of any kind are a PACK! Ask any sheep herder.) There are probably others.
Hiking is just one of the most pointless and stupid activies I can think of. Now we see that it’s also dangerous.
“But even in this country there is a mindset by some liberals.”
And how!
Any who wish can go to www.evergladesinstitute.org and listen or watch ‘Lil Debby, an NPS ParcPerson, blabbering about how they never considered that cougar could be a risk to humans.
This intellectual Twinkie (all frosting, no IQ points), and a five person team was unable to correctly determine the gender of a 60 pound cougar around whose neck they had placed a radio collar.
When the Armed and Rangerous, like ‘Lil Debbie are allowed to make policy, lives are lost, and unspeakable attacks upon children result.
However, Jacobson’s Law of Beastly Behavior Control states:
“When gunpowder speaks, beasts obey.”
The Founders knew what they were saying when the wrote that it was their right and duty to be at all times armed”.
Tyrannical political predators and hungry beastly predators are equally respectful of the rights of the armed.
Where were these women when I was in college! Oh yeah. Grammar school. Never mind.
A pistol would have worked much more quickly.
You obviously haven't hiked the 12 mile section of the Ozark Trail from Taum Sauk Mountain to Johnson's Shut ins..
But I’ve been to Barcellona
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.