Help support local journalism in Northern Colorado: Become a digital subscriber today. The popular park west of Fort Collins was reopened Monday evening after closing during the investigation. 'In the event of a lion attack, you need to do anything in your power to fight back just as this gentleman did.''

'The runner did everything he could to save his life,'' said Mark Leslie, CPW's Northeast Region manager. Wildlife officers found the mountain lion dead near where the incident took place while looking for items the runner asked them to find. The man sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The account was confirmed by investigators after examining the lion.

While defending himself, he told investigators that he killed the lion by suffocating it. He said he was bitten on his face and wrist but was able to fight and break free from the lion. The man, whose name and place of residence have not been released, told authorities he heard something behind him on the trail and was attacked as he turned. The animal was later identified as a juvenile mountain lion, possibly weighing about 80 pounds or more. The man was running alone on the park's West Ridge Trail when he was attacked from behind, according to an initial Colorado Parks and Wildlife release. ► UPDATE 2/5: Trail runner suffocated mountain lion after attack west of Fort CollinsĪn unidentified man is recovering in a Fort Collins-area hospital after he killed a mountain lion in self-defense after the animal attacked him Monday afternoon at Horsetooth Mountain Park. ►UPDATE 2/5: Mountain lion attack puts fear in some Fort Collins trail runners ►UPDATE 2/5: Mountain lion attack: Animal tests negative for rabies, rangers increase patrols and close park Watch Video: Tips for living in mountain lion country

Colorado mountain runner choked cat