A JOGGER was left unable to stand and drenched in blood after being attacked by a gang of vicious otters.
Mariasella Harun, a jogger in her 30s, had to be rushed to hospital after she was ambushed by the pint-sized creatures in a Malaysian park.
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She was pictured sobbing on a curb following the attack, with deep wounds visible on her shins.
Haunting footage shows the otters running towards the park moments before the horror unfolded.
Two brave joggers attempted to rescue her – only to then also get caught up in the bloody attack in Sabah, Malaysia.
Mariasella, a park regular, entered Perdana Park in Tanjung Aru at 6.10am on Wednesday and quickly noticed something unknown emerging from the drain, which then bit her.
She said: “Suddenly, I saw something emerging from the drain next to KGC [Kinabalu Golf Club].
“The creature jumped out and bit me while I was running, and there were many of them.
“I could not even stand up when it happened.”
This marks the first attack recorded on a human in the area.
Roland Niun, director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, said: “Otters generally avoid humans, and their perceived cuteness might lead some to mistakenly believe they are friendly and tame.
“Although there are reports of otters being domesticated in other parts of the state, it is not advisable to approach them, as they can bite when provoked.
“In this case, the family of otters might have seen the victim as a threat to their cubs and reacted defensively.”
A family of otters, six adults and two cubs, are often seen around the park hunting for fish in the lake.
The otters are known to visit the park during the morning and the evening and then leave the popular family area.
Previous otter attacks
THIS follows several previous otter attacks:
Malaysia: In 2022, a pack of six or seven otters chased another female jogger after she reportedly accidentally stepped on an otter pup.
The otters caught up to the screaming woman and sunk their teeth into her leg, causing her to be rushed to hospital.
The other people in the park were too scared to go near the otters to help the jogger.
Montana, USA: In 2023, a mum was ravaged by an otter in an unprovoked attack as she met with friends for her 37th birthday on the Jefferson River.
Jen Royce had the otter sink its teeth into her face and rip off part of her ear in an attack that has since left her traumatised.
Jen said that although her scars are healing, she expects them to last for the rest of her life, along with the mental turmoil from the event.
Singapore: Brit Graham Spencer was bitten 26 times in 10 seconds by a pack of 20 otters on his legs, buttocks and fingers.
Graham was attacked in Singapore where he lives, being pinned down and attacked, only saved by his friend who was with him.
Star attacked: Star of popular HBO show Succession Crystal Finn was hospitalised after being bitten on the leg and bottom whilst out running.
Finn played Lauren Pawson in season 4 episode 8 of the drama.
Crystal said that she had no idea otters could be so dangerous: “I would have thought, ‘Oh those cute river otters.’”
Florida: An elderly Kayaker, 77, was attacked whilst paddling in Florida, leaving her needing stitches on her nose and ear and rabies treatment.
Sue Spector said: “When you’re (in the middle of) it you don’t have a lot of thought except you hope you survive.”
Sue’s husband Marty attempted to save her by fending the otter off with a paddle.