Man attacked by otters in Singapore park 'thought he was going to die'

A man attacked by otters says he feared he would be killed during the harrowing experience.

British expat Graham Spencer was on his usual early morning walk in the Singapore Botanic Gardens when about 20 wild otters ran at him late last month.

He told Straits Times reported he needed stitches after the attack, in which he fell over and the otters trampled and bit him.

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"I actually thought I was going to die - they were going to kill me," he said.

Mr Spencer said he was left with 26 wounds.

The paper reported the animals might have thought they were threatened, but were not typically aggressive.

The man in his 60s said the animals had been walking across a path 4m in front of him when they saw a person running.

But Mr Spencer said when the runner avoided them, the otters went towards him.

"All of a sudden, they must have thought I was (the runner)," he said.

A Botanic Gardens representative told the Straits Times the animals could be aggressive when they had pups.

It said signs had been put up to warn people.