A mother who heard her child crying outside their Colorado home ended up wrestling him from a mountain lion's grasp, authorities said.

The 5-year-old boy is recovering after the Friday night attack that left him with injuries to his head, neck and face, Pitkin County Sheriff's Office said in a written statement.

His mother, who has not been identified, sustained minor injuries to her hand and legs.

Authorities say the child was playing outside with his older brother around 8 p.m. when the mom heard his screams.

"The mother ran outside, saw the mountain lion on her son and was able to physically remove her son from the mountain lion," investigators stated in a release.