Jason Michael Quirino helped to rescue Shannon Parker from an attacking mountain lion, Kernville, California, June 26, 2004. Parker, 27, was hiking in the Sequoia National Forest when she was attacked by a mountain lion. The undernourished, 58-pound male lion dragged her from the trail and about 25 feet down a steep embankment, where it mauled her about the face. Three friends with whom she had been hiking, including Quirino, 30, law student, were a distance behind her and heard her screams for help. They immediately responded. One of the other friends arrived first and, descending to Parker, grasped her about the waist as he attempted to push the lion away with his foot. When Quirino and the other friend arrived, Quirino handed the first rescuer a pocketknife. He stabbed the lion twice, but it maintained its grasp of Parker. While the other friend ran to alert help, Quirino threw rocks at the lion, and it released Parker. As Quirino and the other rescuer were attempting to get Parker up the embankment, the lion bit into her right leg and again maintained its grasp. Quirino struck the lion repeatedly about the head with rocks until it released her. Quirino and the other rescuer walked Parker to safety. She was airlifted to one hospital, then transferred to another, where she was treated for extensive injury, including the loss of an eye. Quirino recovered from a minor sprain to an ankle and scratches to his arms and legs.
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77950-8914