A B.C. boy whose skull was punctured in two places by a cougar's fangs has been released from hospital and is back home with his family.
Eighteen-month-old Julien Sylvester was rushed to BC Children's Hospital Aug. 29 after he was mauled by a big cat in Kennedy Lake Provincial Park near Ucluelet.
Just a little more than a week later, little Julien is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery on his head.
"Children are so resilient," his mother Sarah Hagar said. "They say in six weeks his skull will be fused back together, three weeks his wounds on the back of his head will be healed. Other than that, we're more concerned about the emotional and psychological things that he and my daughter must be going through."
Julien was at the beach with his grandfather, older sister Iris and a family friend when the cougar attacked. The trio managed to scare off the animal, but not before the boy was seriously hurt.
Hagar says her 60-year-old father felt like a higher power entered his body as he charged at the cougar and shouted for it to drop Julien.
"When I thanked him for saving my son's life, he just hugged me and told me there was no choice," she said.
At home on Vancouver Island, Hagar is watching Julien closely for any signs of lingering damage from the cougar attack.
"We think perhaps he could have difficulties with balance and fine motor coordination, but we haven't seen that so far," she said.
"When you see him walking around here, he has the same kind of balance as children his age."
The relieved mother has noticed Julien clinging a little closer these days, but that doesn't necessarily bother her.
"I've got some attachment needs of my own after something like this," Hagar said.
Conservation officers have been hunting for the cat since the attack, but it has yet to be found and the park remains closed.
