River otter attacks mother, child while walking on marina dock: Officials [Video]

A mother and her young child were attacked by a river otter while walking on a dock at a marina in Washington state on Thursday, wildlife officials said.

The child was pulled off the dock by the otter and briefly dragged underwater during the incident, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The rare attack occurred Thursday morning at a marina in Bremerton, located on the Puget Sound across from Seattle, WDFW said.

“The victim’s mother reported that a river otter pulled her young child into the water as they were walking down the dock,” the department said in a press release. “The child was dragged underwater, and after a few moments, resurfaced.”

The mother was able to pull the child out of the water as the otter continued to attack, the department said. The animal continued to pursue them as they left the dock, it added.

The child …