Cub Scout talks about bobcat attack

BRADENTON - At ten years old, Johnathan Knecht earned more than just a Cub Scout badge for surviving his last hike.

"When we were on our way back it attacked me," said Johnathan.

Johnathan was on a hiking trip at Withlacoochee State Forest with his scout troup from Bradenton when the attack happened.  Suddenly the jaws of a wild bobcat were wrapped around his back and neck.

"It bite me and clawed me," said Johnathan.

Johnathan’s mom, Betty, heard her son was in trouble and couldn’t believe her eyes.

"I went running back to my tent and when I got there he was completely covered in blood. I didn't know what to expect at first. He just wanted to go home," said Betty.

Julia Burry was hiking with the group when her adrenaline took over and tried to scare off the big cat any way she could.

"I just started kicking and I have no idea how many times I kicked this animal. According to the other kids, I kicked him a lot," explained Julia.

Even Burry’s daughter, Savannah, got in a few licks.

"I saw my mom run over to Johnathan and I said I got to go to. So I just ran after her. She got the first kick and then I kicked it. I did a half moon kick," Savannah said with a laugh.

The bobcat eventually ran off, but by then Johnathan had suffered bites and cuts throughout his body.

The animal ended up attacking another person on the same day. But the it lost that battle.

It moved onto Frank Womack's property and attacked him. Officials said Womack, 71, managed to choke the animal until it stopped moving. He then hit it with a hammer until it died.

Womack was treated and released at a local hospital. However, he and Johnathan will soon have to head back to the doctor’s office.

The bobcat that attacked them tested positive for rabies. So both will now have to undergo a series of rabies shots for several weeks.  However, they are expected to be okay.