911 call of cougar attacks near Fall City released, 1 cyclist injured

FALL CITY, Wash. - Audio from several 911 calls has been released from a terrifying cougar attack north of Snoqualmie, capturing the moments a group of friends tried to pin the creature down with their bicycles.

The attack happened on a trail north of Snoqualmie on Saturday, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

At about 12:45 p.m., WDFW officers responded to a report of an incident involving a human and a cougar along Tokul Creek.

According to officials, a group of five cyclists were on a road when one of the cyclists was attacked. 

The cyclist, a woman in her 60s, was either clawed or bit by the cougar, and sustained neck and face injuries. 

Authorities on Friday released harrowing audio of the four 911 calls made by the cyclists. Dispatchers are heard struggling to understand what the callers are saying, as they are in a remote area with poor cell reception.

One caller is heard crying, "Right now, we have a bicycle on top of the cougar that we are holding him down with, but he is fighting back."

The King County Sheriff's Office said the rest of the cyclists pinned down the cougar with a bike until Fish and Wildlife agents arrived at the scene.

"We are thankful that the victim is stable after the incident this weekend," said Lieutenant Erik Olson. "The people on scene took immediate action to render aid, and one of our officers was able to arrive within minutes to continue medical aid and coordinate transport. We may have had a very different outcome without their heroic efforts."

The cougar was euthanized at the scene, the sheriff's office said. 

There were also reports that there was a second cougar involved, but WDFW Police and a houndsman were unable to locate another cougar in the area.