Mountain lion attacks 5-year-old boy in Malibu Creek State Park near Los Angeles

A cougar was put down after it attacked and injured a 5-year-old boy in a park near Los Angeles over the weekend.

The attack occurred Sunday afternoon as a Woodland Hills family, including several adults and children, were picnicking at Malibu Creek State Park, according to a statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The children were playing near the group’s picnic table when the cougar attacked the boy, wildlife officials said. At least one of the adults lunged at the lion, which then freed the boy and ran up a nearby tree.

When California State Park Rangers and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, the big cat was still in the tree.

After consulting with conservation officers, “they deemed the cougar a threat to public safety and a ranger euthanized it with a firearm.”

The 5-year-old suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center after the attack. He was released Monday morning.

No other injuries were reported.