Lake Tahoe swimmer injured in rare river otter attack

Lynnette Bellin, a Reno-based swimming instructor, was attacked by a river otter during an open water swim at Lake Tahoe's East Shore on Sunday. Bellin reported that the animal pulled her underwater and engaged in a sustained five-minute struggle involving biting and scratching.

The attack resulted in significant injuries to her face, arms, and legs, requiring a total of 38 stitches. Bellin, who operates a survival swim school, managed to escape the encounter by using her training to reach nearby rocks before walking to Hidden Beach to seek assistance.

Local authorities expressed surprise at the incident, noting that river otter attacks on humans are extremely rare. The Nevada Department of Wildlife has been involved following the report.