This is the shocking moment an illegal pet lion cub broke free and mauled an 11-year-old boy in Thailand.The one-year-old animal, named Mahaesee, escaped from her chains and attacked young Arthit Nueangnui on the evening of October 4 in Kanchanaburi province.Security cameras showed the lioness charged down a residential street, sending locals running and screaming in fear at around 9.15pm.Arthit and a group of boys tried to flee, but the big cat lunged at him, knocking him to the ground and ravaged his side.Before the beast could rip further into the boy, neighbour Sarawut Tokaeo, 43, bravely stepped in. He ran over and hit the lioness on the head several times until she released the boy.Both Sarawut and Arthit were injured in the struggle, but the animal eventually retreated to its owner, 32-year-old Parinya Parkpoom, who arrived.The pair were rushed to the hospital and are now recovering, according to officials.The next day, wildlife officers arrived at Parinya's home to sedate Mahaesee and carry it away on a stretcher for veterinary checks. Security footage shows the moment the beast went after an 11-year-old boy after it broke free The boy suffered cuts after the lion lunged at him and knocked him to the ground A neighbour was also rushed to the hospital and treated for injuries when he attempted to save the boyAttapol Charoenchansa, director-general of Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), said: 'The owner has been charged with violating Article 15 of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, which bans permit holders from releasing wild animals. 'This case should serve as a warning for others to act responsibly when keeping dangerous wildlife.'The charge carries a maximum fine of 50,000 baht (£1,150) and up to six months in jail. Parinya has since apologised to the victims' families and has promised to pay all medical bills. He also agreed to hand the lion over to the authorities. Explaining how the lion escaped, Parinya said: 'I didn't realise the chain had broken until a villager called to tell me the lion had escaped and attacked a child. I rushed out right away, secured the lion and brought her back inside.'He also said: 'This accident was entirely my fault.' Before moving the lion from the property, officials tranquilised it as residents watched onNeighbour Sarawut, known locally as Boy, said: 'This isn’t the first time the lion has escaped, it’s happened twice before. We all believe it’s because the owner has been negligent.Athit's mother, Lek expressed her gratitude to the neighbour, but noted that the incident had left her son 'traumatised'. She said: 'Right now, both my son and I are in a terrible emotional state after what happened. I had to turn off the TV at the hospital so he wouldn’t see the news about himself, especially the CCTV footage. It’s traumatising.'This incident didn’t just cause physical injuries. It left deep psychological scars as well. I wasn’t with my son when it happened. He’s incredibly brave, he didn’t cry at all when he called me. He just told me he was already at the hospital.' The lion's escape left residents running and screaming in fear on October 4 The boy's mother said her son is 'traumatised' after the incident A photographed released by authorities shows the lion chained to a kitchen table. The owner has been charged with violating wildlife laws She added: 'When I asked him what happened, he said he was very scared. He told me, "The tiger bit me. It pushed me backwards and knocked me to the ground. It was going to do something to me, and then pressed its paw against my chest. So I pretended to be dead, because I knew if I struggled, I wouldn’t survive. Then P Boy came to help me. He punched the tiger."'Lek also described how the attack could have turned fatal. 'My son is so small and thin, if it had bitten his chest, it would have reached his lungs and organs for sure,' she said. 'Now he’s so traumatised that he can’t sleep at night. I have to sleep beside him.'She continued: 'Recently, the doctors had to reopen the wound because it was bleeding again. Right now, all I want is for him to recover fully, without infection. Taking time off work isn’t an issue; we can earn money later.'What matters most is that my son heals and becomes the cheerful, lively child he used to be. As for accountability, the owner has been checking in regularly and is covering all of the medical expenses.'Owning a lion in Thailand is legal, but only with official permits. Owners must register and microchip the animal and follow strict safety rules set by the Department of National Parks.