Swimming instructor Lynette Bellin was attacked by an aggressive otter. Now, she’s sharing what happened during the terrifying encounter that ended with her needing 38 stitches.
What started off as a regular swim for Lynette Bellin on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe on Sunday, August 30, ended in absolute horror.
She told KCRA that swimming is one of her absolute favorite things to do and that it’s ‘kind of meditative’ to her. This time around, however, it was anything but calming.
In an interview with the outlet, she explained how she suddenly felt something grab her leg.
“I just felt something grab me by my leg and pull me under,” she said.
“And it was so powerful. It felt like it was a human.”
Shortly thereafter, she saw that what had really gotten a hold of her was an otter.
“This otter just started coming after me, teeth and claws, and, you know, my only thought was like, ‘I got to get away from this,’” she said.
“But it kept following me. I tried to swim away from it at one point and it was just attacking my feet.”
Attacked by an otter
She described the otter as ‘relentless’ in a post on social media following the attack. Even after she managed to climb onto a rock, the animal continued attacking and biting her, becoming ‘more and more aggressive’.
After finally managing to get onto dry land, she had suffered serious injuries. Her face, arms, legs and feet were covered in bite marks and blood. Bellin said she believes witnesses called first responders to the scene after seeing the attack.
The first responders took her to a hospital, where she was given several rabies shots. She also needed 38 stitches after being bitten so many times.
A fundraiser page was launched by someone close to Bellin. The person who set up the page said it will be “several weeks” until she’s fully recovered.
Otter attacks on humans are rare, and Bellin believes the animal may have been protecting its young at the time of the attack.
Needed 38 stitches
In a statement to KCRA, Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesperson Kenzie Margiott said: “It’s very rare for us to see something like this,” according to LADbible.
“The North American river otters are in the entire Tahoe basin in the Truckee River, all the way down to Pyramid Lake and all the connecting waterways.
“Their population has been increasing for the last 15 years. So, we are seeing more in the area.”
The Department of Wildlife recommends that people in the area leave otters alone and give them plenty of space if they encounter one in the water.
Despite the terrifying incident, Bellin is determined to get back into the water once she has recovered.
She told ABC News: “I have 38 stitches right now. I can’t swim until those are all healed up. But September is a great time to be swimming in the lake so I’m sure I’ll find myself in there eventually.”
“Swimming is a critical life skill”
On Instagram, she wrote: “I’m sure once I’m healed I will face my fears and return to my favorite place. Perhaps I will just pick different beaches to swim at!”
Her story has gained a lot of attention online, but there’s one important message she feels has been left out: “My kids are annoyed that I’ve taken over their feeds as the Otter Lady, lol. But in all seriousness, I have been frustrated that the main message I wanted to convey in these media interviews has been completely left out of the final stories,” she wrote on her Instagram.
Bellin continued: “That message is that swimming is a critical life skill that everyone should know. The world is covered in 70% water. The water can be unpredictable and unforgiving. Being a competent swimmer is what saved me in this situation, as I didn’t have to think about my breath control or how to move in the water – it is second nature to me.
“If you’re not a strong swimmer, I encourage you to make it a priority. And the biggest gift you can give to your child is learning to be confident and competent in the water from a very young age, giving the ample opportunities to practice. It is a gift that could one day save their life. I’m living proof of that. Thanks, Mom and Dad!”
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