Skier mauled by wild snow leopard and left with blood pouring from her face after getting close to photograph the beast

A SKIER was knocked down by a snow leopard and left with blood pouring from her face after she tried to take a picture of the wild animal.

The horrifying footage shows the woman lying motionless in the snow and the leopard sitting other eats only moments after the brutal attack.

The tourist was on her way back to her hotel in the resort town of Koktokay in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region when she spotted a wild big cat in a nearby wooded area.

A group of onlookers soon arrived to get a close look at the beautiful but deadly beast.

At this point, the foolish woman decided to approach as witnesses said she appeared to be pulling out her phone to take a picture.

After about 10 minutes, when she was gradually getting closer to the leopard, he suddenly pounced on her.

It damaged her face and even bit into her skull with its sharp jaws, which those watching revealed.

Onlookers were left fearing the woman may have been killed as horrifying footage showed her lifeless on the ground.

Her thick ski helmet seemed to save her from a fatal fate.

There has never been a recorded human death from a snow leopard attack.

The animal was sitting next to the woman, her head bleeding into the snow.

The ski instructor finally chased the cat away by waving his sticks.

Shocked passers-by could then rush to the woman and drag her to safety.

Her purple ski suit was now stained crimson and she covered her bloodied face with her hands as she was taken to the hospital.

Doctors from the Fuyun County People’s Hospital miraculously confirmed that the victim’s condition was stable and not life-threatening.

Authorities said snow leopard activity was repeatedly detected in the area in the days before the attack.

Several security warnings were repeatedly issued to tourists in the areas, they added.

The alert stated: “Snow leopard activity has recently been detected in Gem Valley in Keketuohai.

“Snow leopards are large predators with strong aggressive tendencies. When passing through this area, please move quickly and do not linger.

“Don’t get out of your vehicle or approach to take pictures and never walk around alone.”

Local authorities said that rescue measures were started immediately after the demolition.

Local forestry, police and city officials have since increased patrols and are urging tourists to avoid stopping near dangerous wild animals and never approach or film animals up close.

China is home to about 60 percent of the world’s snow leopard population.

They are a nationally protected species in China and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

But they very rarely attack people unprovoked, as they are usually considered the least aggressive of all the big cats.