British man says ‘I thought I was going to die’ after OTTERS pin him down
British man says ‘I thought I was going to die’ after OTTERS pinned him down and savaged him in Singapore park
Graham George Spencer, 71, was bitten by family of otters while walkingSustained over 20 injuries to his legs, buttocks, finger in November 30 incidentHe was pinned down, bitten by otters in Singapore’s botanic gardens at 6:40amHis friend scared the animals off and they took refuge in a nearby visitor centreMr Spencer was treated at hospital for injuries, he said police were investigating
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A British man has said he ‘thought he was going to die’ after otters pinned him down and savaged him in a park in Singapore.
Graham George Spencer, 71, was attacked by a family of otters and bitten ’26 times in 10 seconds’ on his legs, buttocks and finger while walking in Singapore’s botanic gardens.
He went to hospital with more than 20 wounds, some of which required stitches, following the ordeal around 6.40am on November 30.
Animal welfare groups have suggested the otters, known locally as the ‘Zouk family’ (pictured in March) felt threatened by Mr Spencer, causing them to attack him
Mr Spencer, an ex-BT worker who is originally from Cambridge and owns a maid agency, said he was enjoying a morning walk near the Taman Serasi entrance of the park with a friend when the attack took place.
The pair had seen around 20 otters cross the path around four metres in front of them – the first time, Mr Spencer said, he had seen otters in the park, despite walking there every morning for five months.
A man running ahead of them skirted around the otters, making them go ‘crazy’ and lunge at Mr Spencer. ‘I actually thought I was going to die – they were going to kill me,’ he said.
Graham George Spencer, in his 60s, said he ‘thought he was going to die’ after otters pinned him down and savaged him in a park in Singapore
Mr Spencer went to hospital with more than 20 wounds, some of which required stitches, following the ordeal around 6:40am on November 30
His friend, who was about ’15 paces’ away, scared the otters off by running towards them screaming.
Mr Spencer praised his friend’s actions, telling local media: ‘If it wasn’t for my friend, I don’t think I’d still be here, I’d be dead’.
The pair ran towards a nearby visitor centre, where they took shelter, still pursued by the otters.
Staff treated some of Mr Spencer’s wounds before sending him to hospital where he was given tetanus shots and oral antibiotics.
He has had three subsequent appointments to treat his wounds, costing about $1,200. Mr Spencer said police were investigating the incident.
The attack on Mr Spencer was not the first time otters (not pictured, stock image) in the botanic gardens have attacked walkers – in May, a 77-year-old man was bitten while exercising near Kallang River in Singapore
Animal welfare groups have suggested the otters, known locally as the ‘Zouk family’, felt threatened by Mr Spencer, causing them to attack him.
‘Given that it was early morning, it may have been dark and confusing for the otters and [Spencer] may have just been a victim of circumstance,’ Bernard Seah, a member of OtterWatch, told the Straits Times.
It was not the first time otters in the botanic gardens have attacked walkers – in May, a 77-year-old man was bitten while exercising near Kallang River in Singapore.
And in 2017, a five-year-old girl was bitten by an otter at Gardens by the Bay.
The city-state’s national parks board has warned residents: ‘DO NOT touch, chase or corner the otters. Observe them from a distance. Going too close to the otters may frighten them.’
It is the second report of a wildlife attack in Singapore in the last week after a three-year-old was pecked on the face by a peacock on Sunday.
