A mother fought off a mountain lion that attacked her 5-year-old son in Pitkin County Friday, according to the Aspen Valley Hospital.
It happened a little before 8 p.m., according to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office.
A man called 911 and reported that his son had been attacked by a mountain lion in the area of mile marker 4 on Lower River Road, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. Lower River Road is located approximately 10 miles northwest of the City of Aspen in unincorporated Pitkin County.
The father told 911 dispatchers that he was driving his injured son to Aspen Valley Hospital.
Investigators stated that the 5-year-old boy had been playing outside with his older brother when the mountain lion attacked. The boys' mother was inside and heard screaming, according to the statement.
"The mother ran outside, saw the mountain lion on her son and was able to physically remove her son from the mountain lion," investigators stated.
"The boy sustained injuries to his face, head and neck," according to the statement. "The mother sustained minor injuries to her hand and legs."
Deputies and a law enforcement officer from the US Forest Service spotted a mountain lion in the front yard and it was put down by the US Forest Service law enforcement officer, according to the statement.
Officials with Colorado Parks and Wildlife will examine the deceased lion and attempt to locate a second lion that was reported to be in the area earlier in the day, investigators stated.
The boy and his mother were both taken to the hospital, a spokesperson for Aspen Valley Hospital said in a recorded message.
"The mother has been released and the boy is being transported to a Denver area hospital in fair condition," the spokesperson stated.
There have been three fatal mountain lion attacks in Colorado since 1991.
MORE | Fatal wildlife attacks rare but possible in Colorado
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