Horror as river otter drags child off a dock and underwater in vicious attack

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Horror as river otter drags child off a dock and underwater in vicious attack at Washington marina​

Horror erupted at a Washington marina when a child was dragged off of a dock and into the water by a territorial river otter.

The unnamed child, who was taking a stroll with his mother on the dock, was suddenly dragged off by a river otter in a rare attack at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County on September 12.

The mother bravely fought back to get her child out of the water once they resurfaced.

But the otter was unrelenting and bit the child in the arm as they were lifted into the air. The otter continued to chase them down the dock until they were out of harm's way.

The child has scratches and bites on the top of the head, face and legs, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife said.

• A child, who was taking a stroll with his mother on the dock, was suddenly dragged off by a river otter in the rare attack at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County on September 12 (stock image)

• The mother bravely struggled to free her child but they still sustained scratches and bites on the top of the head, face and legs, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) said. Pictured: Bremerton Harborside Marina in Bremerton, Washington

The child and mother weren't identified, but its reported the child was treated for their injuries at a Silverdale hospital.

The WDFW Sergeant, Ken Balazs, said: 'We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother's quick actions and child's resiliency.

'We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.'

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services caught and euthanized the river otter. Its remains were brought to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab for testing, including for rabies, Fox 13 Seattle reported.

There have been six documented river otter attacks in Washington during the past decade, according to the WDFW.

River otters are common throughout Washington. Although encounters with river otters are rare, they can be territorial and unpredictable.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services caught and euthanized the river otter (stock image)

 

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