Lynnette Bellin, a swimming instructor from Reno, Nevada, has undergone surgery after an infection developed in her finger following a recent attack by an otter in Lake Tahoe. Bellin was swimming near Hidden Beach on August 30 when she was grabbed and pulled underwater by the animal.
Bellin, who teaches water safety, described the encounter as a five-minute ordeal where the otter repeatedly attacked her. She recounted trying to push the animal away and even attempting to pick it up and throw it, but the otter remained relentless. She eventually made her way to a rock, and then over rocks and a fence to a bike trail to seek help, leaving a trail of blood.
Following the initial attack, Bellin required 38 stitches and rabies treatment. She later noticed her left hand was not in good condition and sought medical attention. An X-ray at an urgent care facility did not reveal any broken bones, but she was admitted to the hospital, where surgery confirmed an infection in her pinky finger. The surgeon cleaned the area with saline.
Bellin is currently receiving IV antibiotics and working with an occupational therapist to regain mobility. She will not be released until an infectious disease doctor clears her. She noted the rarity of such otter attacks, with only 59 documented cases since 1875.
Bellin, who has been swimming in Lake Tahoe for 25 years, credited her own swimming training with saving her life during the attack, emphasizing that her competence in the water allowed her to manage her breathing and movement instinctively.
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