An ordinary day in Malibu turned into a nightmare when an 11-year-old girl was suddenly attacked by a mountain lion right outside her home. Out of nowhere, the big cat lunged, sinking its powerful jaws into her arm and refusing to let go. The peaceful sound of the ocean was shattered by screams, as panic and chaos erupted. Neighbors rushed to help, fighting to pull the predator away, every second feeling like forever. In that terrifying moment, the calm streets of Malibu became the scene of a life-or-death struggle.

An 11-year-old girl was attacked by a mountain lion outside a home in Malibu, California — one of the nation’s most exclusive celebrity enclaves.

The girl was feeding chickens at a residence in a neighborhood off the famed Pacific Coast Highway on Sunday evening when the mountain lion suddenly emerged from the bushes and clamped its jaws on the child’s arm, KTLA reported.

She was rushed by her family to a local hospital, where she is recovering, CBS News reported.

 

The girl’s exact injuries and condition weren’t immediately clear.

Officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tracked down and euthanized the cougar within an hour of the 5:45 p.m. attack.

Authorities took DNA samples from the victim and the mountain lion to confirm it was involved, according to KTLA.

The attack comes just weeks after a 4-year-old child was attacked by a mountain lion while hiking with their family at Olympic National Park in Washington state.

Mountain lions, which can weigh up to 150 pounds, are known for being one of the most reclusive animals in US forests as well as for being extremely territorial, according to the National Parks Service.

While human attacks are rare, officials recommend facing the animal head-on, trying to appear as big as possible while slowly backing away if approached.

Malibu, meanwhile, is still reeling from this winter’s devastating wildfires, which razed 720 structures in the city and torched miles of beachfront mansions to their foundations.