Eighty-Three Year Old Attacked by Rabid Beaver

Eighty-three year old Lillian Peterson had just finished swimming in Lake Barcroft, Virginia when she was attacked, on Tuesday.

A rabid beaver had snuck up on her and latched it's teeth into her leg.

She struck at the beaver's eyes with a walking stick, but even then it didn't stop.

Mike Korin happened to witness the beginning of the attack, and quickly came to Peterson's aid, striking the beaver with his canoe paddle, til the paddle broke.

The beaver came again, so Korin used his other paddle against it, til it seemed to die.

When paramedics arrived, and began treating Peterson, the beaver jumped up and came at them again.

One of the paramedics began beating it with the paddle til Peterson was able to trap it in a net.

Eventually animal control arrived and killed the beaver, whom tests later showed to have rabies.

Residents in the area are being warned to look out for other animals, that act strangely.

As for Peterson, she's recovering in the hospital after being bitten repeatedly and given shots for rabies.

She does not plan on swimming there, ever again.