Peter Bysterveld is alive to tell his tale of survival from a terrifying cougar attack, thanks to sharp instincts and sheer strength. The 23-year-old student wrestled the feline and flung it through the air after a failed attempt to escape from it in Kananaskis Country.
"I hit a muddy patch and fell on my stomach, and then I turned around and grabbed its feet, gave it a toss. and picked up a stick and started yelling at it," Bysterveld said.
Bysterveld and his girlfriend were on the last leg of a long hike in Kananaskis Country's Sheep River Wildlife Sanctuary when they came face-to-face with two young-looking cougars. The animals were sitting among trees some seven meters ahead on the popular hiking trail about 20 kilometers west of Turner Valley. One cat turned around, looked his way and lunged in his direction.
With nothing to fight with, Bysterveld felt his only option was to run, which would also distract the cougar from his girlfriend, who watched in horror from behind a tree. Then Bysterveld fell.
The cat — about the size of a large domestic dog — bit into his calf. Bysterveld responded by taking the cat by its legs and tossing it about five meters. It got up to come back at him, but Bysterveld grabbed a stick and yelled at it.
The cat then sauntered off into a gully and the injured Bysterveld, covered in scratches on his arms and a bite to his leg, made it back to safety.
"I think being bigger helped, and I think he was shocked that I picked him up and threw him," said Bysterveld.
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