Warning: this video contains graphic images that some readers may find disturbing.
Not wearing Airpods saved this mans life.
Well, kind of. Travis Kauffman, 31, was attacked by a mountain lion in the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space in Colorado on Feb. 4. Kauffman recounted his story to Colorado Parks and Wildlife just several days after, and the video was released on Thursday.
His plan was to run 12 to 15 miles that day, including a first-time run on the intense Towers trail, a path he'd only mountain biked before.
After hearing rustling in the brush behind him, he turned just in time to see a mountain lion just 10 feet away from him, and coming closer. He immediately threw up his arms and did his best "barbarian yell" in an attempt to ward off the predator. Still, it pounced.
Kauffman wrestled the big cat, which had latched on to his wrist. Eventually, Kaufman was forced to strangle the 80-pound cat after trying to fight it off with stick and rocks.
After killing the animal that attacked him, Kauffman, high on adrenaline and fear, ran another 3 miles before he was driven to the hospital by a helpful jogger.
He claims that he wouldn't have been able to hear the mountain lion if he'd had "earbuds in." His advice to aspiring trail runners? “Just be aware that you are sharing that space with wildlife.”
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