Lynnette Bellin, a professional swim instructor, was swimming near Hidden Beach in Incline Village, Nevada, on Sunday, August 30, when an otter suddenly grabbed her leg and pulled her underwater. Bellin initially thought a person was pulling her due to the strength of the grip, but soon realized it was an otter when she "felt the teeth and claws." The otter was relentless, biting and scratching her as she tried to reach nearby rocks and even threw the animal. Despite yelling for help, no one responded, but she managed to exit the water using the rocks. Once back on the beach, she saw the otter circling the area and drove herself to the hospital. Photos of her injuries show blood running down her face, arm, and hand. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office searched for the animal but could not locate it. This attack follows another otter incident at Lake Tahoe on August 9, when Bob Daly was attacked at Pope Beach, leaving him with eight bite and scratch marks. Otter attacks are rare, with only 39 documented since 1875, according to the Otter Specialist Group. Lake Tahoe is home to Northern river otters, which are nocturnal but may be active in early morning and late afternoon in remote areas.