VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- A Pittsburgh family vacationing had to fend off this rabid river otter when it attacked a 14-year-old girl paddle boarding on a canal in north Sandbridge Sunday.
Brian Kosanovic jumped in the canal to rescue his daughter, Caitlin, when he saw the animal bite her.
Brian also suffered bites and scratches.
He was able to kill the river otter with help from other family members.
The otter tested positive for rabies but the Virginia Health department said they will do further tests to determine if the otter had either the raccoon variant rabies or the bat variant rabies.
Brian and Caitlin had to have a series of painful immunoglobulin shots along with stitches.
They head home Saturday but have to stop at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital for another shot before they leave.
"We are grateful our daughter is fine. If this had happened further down the canal where I could not have saved her, who knows what condition she would be in," Brian said.