I have been interested in the recent reports and letters in The Argus regarding the sighting of large cats in the Sussex area as it reminds me of an incident I had in the early Sixties.

I was in the US Army stationed in Washington State and each spring, as I was with the army field hospital, we would be sent to the Yakima Firing Centre, which was big enough for two infantry divisions to have a mock war.

We provided the medical care for the inevitable sick and injured.

The firing centre was mostly desert-like, with populations of rattle snakes and jack rabbits.

While off-duty I would take my fishing gear to the Yakima River in the hope of catching the odd fish.

One day I was on the grassy bank of the river. The other bank some 70 yards or so away, consisted of a slope with loose shale and rocks.

I was concentrating on my float when I heard the sound of rocks being disturbed and looked up to see a puma/mountain lion standing watching me.

After some minutes, it decided it was too much trouble to swim the river and have me for dinner so turned and ran off up the slope.

Being aware of the odd reports of big cats attacking humans, I collected my fishing gear and headed back to camp.

It was a good story and worth a few free beers on the NCO Club.

-Clifford W Witt, Saltdean