Hiker saved from being mauled by mountain lion as hero dog jumps in to save her

Erin Wilson, 24, was attacked by a big cat as she went for a walk before her heroic Belgian Malinois Eva jumped into help, being seriously injured in the process

A woman was saved from being mauled to death by a vicious mountain lion when her heroic dog fought it off.

Erin Wilson was on an afternoon stroll along a river in northern California to relax when the predator suddenly attacked, swiping at her shoulder.

In desperation she called her dog to help who leapt into battle.

The big cat grabbed the Belgian Malinois in its jaws so Erin went to help but was caught by its back paws.

In desperation she ran back to her truck and found a tire iron before flagging down help from a passing motorist before going back to her dog who was being dragged off the rail.

Together they attacked the cat which finally let Eva go and ran away.

Thanks to her dog the only injuries Erin suffered was a few scratches and bruises.

The 24-year-old told the Sacramento Bee : “I don’t think I will ever be able to live up to how amazing and loyal she is to me.

“She hit that cat really hard. They fought for a couple seconds, and then I heard her start crying. That’s when the cat latched on to her skull.

“At first I was like, ‘Wow, she’s OK” but when I looked at her closer, I realised she had a couple of puncture wounds in her face.

“She just had a lot of blood coming out of her mouth.”

After saving her dog, she raced to an emergency vet in a nearby city.

Veterinarians are now working to ensure there is no bleed on her brain

She launched a Go Fund Me page to help pay for the bill which has so far received more than £20,000 from the required £7,000.

An update on the page read: “On May 16th, at the white bar picnic area I was attacked by a mountain lion. It swiped at me, scratching my left shoulder.

“I yelled out for help from my dog Eva. She was only a few yards ahead of me and attacked the lion. They battled for a few moments until I heard her cry.

“Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we will be able to pay for Eva’s medical bills.

“Any additional funds will go towards her after care, some very solid pampering, ensuring her safety and quality of life, my medical bills and a few charities of our choosing.

“We are looking at Malinois rescues, big cat rescues, and predator management groups. Please feel free to recommend any worthy charitable organisations.

“We will visit her in a few hours once the vet is in for the morning.”