DENVER (November 24, 2015) – Some call it a tragedy. Avid cyclist, Anne Hjelle, calls it a miracle to be alive as she was attacked by a rouge mountain lion on a bike trail in Southern California. In the series, Fight to Survive with host Craig DeMartino, Hjelle shares her amazing story of the attack – and the hard road to recovery – as she was ravaged by a mountain lion that had already taken a life that day on the trail. Hjelle's harrowing story and how she has moved onward is the subject in this week's Fight to Survive exclusively on Outdoor Channel on Saturday, November 28 at 2 p.m. ET.
On January 8, 2004, Hjelle and her biking partner, Debi Nicholls, set off for a quick 45-minute loop on a familiar bike trail at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Southern California. They came across another biker with a rider-less bike who told the ladies he just found this bike and wasn't sure if it was abandoned.
"I thought he was just messing with me and didn't think much of it," said Hjelle. As the riders continued down the path, Hjelle said she saw a flash of something moving out of the corner of her eye and assumed she startled a deer. "But then I felt the impact of the mountain lion and I knew immediately this was no deer. The impact was like nothing I've ever experienced before," continued Hjelle.
Mountain lions, also called cougars, can leap up to 40 feet to their prey. They can carry more than their body weight for up to half a mile – even jumping fences. And their large paws and vice-like jaw are meant to do quick damage. Hjelle's screams soon turned to terror as the cougar continually clamped down on her face and neck, attempting to drag her back into the ravine. Her biking partner, Nicholls, tried to help by throwing her bike at the animal and then grabbing Hjelle's legs to stop the cougar from dragging Hjelle any farther. "He was incredibly strong as he was moving both of us with my heels dug in," said Nicholls. "I kept telling her, 'I'm not letting go.'"
Eventually more bikers came to the scene and disrupted the cougar from its prey and soon, paramedics arrived on the scene. Hjelle suffered from numerous bite wounds that were three to four inches deep. After nearly seven hours of initial surgery, and 200 stitches and staples later, Hjelle survived.
Host Craig DeMartino is no stranger to fighting to survive. In 2002, DeMartino experienced a horrific climbing accident as a result of a series of miscommunications with his partner and took a 100 ft. ground-fall. Barely escaping death, he survived with a shattered right and left heel, compound fractures of both ankles, a broken back, broken neck, broken ribs, punctured lung, and a rare nerve disorder called RSD brought on by the trauma. After many months and multiple surgeries, DeMartino chose to amputate his shattered right leg below the knee in hope of returning to climbing and getting his life back.
Check local listings or visit www.OutdoorChannel.com/ChannelFinder to find the network in your area.
About Outdoor Channel
Outdoor Channel has been taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1993. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Outdoor Sportsman Group and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is received by more than 40 million U.S. households – the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country – and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and download our iPhone and iPad app. #WhatGetsYouOutdoors
********
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tom Caraccioli, Outdoor Sportsman Group, P: 212.852.6646, tcaraccioli@thesportsmanchannel.com
Nancy Zakhary, Outdoor Channel, P: 212.986.6667, nancy@braincomm.com
