This is the shocking moment a woman was attacked by a capybara while swimming in Colombia.
Amazing video shows how a paddle with the huge rodent took a sinister turn when it launched itself at the swimmer and attacked.
Phone footage showed the young victim raising her finger at the animal to warn it to keep its distance.
In the blink of an eye, it then jumped onto her back and seemingly gnawed on her head before submerging her.
The woman’s screams could be heard as the large animal pushed her out of the frame while snapping at her.
With any luck, a man arrived on the shore and grabbed a stick to defend the victim as she came to shore sobbing.
She continued to whine off camera as the enormous rodent floated peacefully in the lake again.
The capybara is seen mounting the woman before dragging her underwater
The woman’s head goes underwater as the huge rodent bites at her
The woman whimpers as she is dragged down by the enormous rodent
Capybaras eat grass next to a street in a gated community in Tigre, Buenos Aires province, on August 27, 2021
The scary scenes were filmed in Ciénaga in northern Colombia, What’s The Jam reports.
One resident said: ‘Just because you’ve seen videos of them being calm and cute doesn’t change the fact that they are still wild animals.’
Another asked: ‘But why would she swim with it?’
A user who gave her name as Lilith commented, “Aren’t capybaras supposed to be calm and friendly?”
Nichi added, “What took so long to help her?! The thing bit her head and face!’
Capybaras, herbivorous rodents, are considered fairly docile creatures that will only bite if provoked or threatened.
Although they are semi-aquatic and can hold their breath underwater for almost five minutes, they can also reach speeds of up to 35 kilometers per hour.
Their maximum lifespan is between eight and ten years and they typically weigh between 77 and 146 lbs.
Capybaras are considered quite docile creatures that will only bite if provoked or threatened
Capybaras are semi-aquatic and can hold their breath underwater for almost five minutes
The capybara continues to bite at the woman as she is pushed out of the frame
Capybaras, native to South America, are the largest living rodents in the world.
They inhabit dense forests and savannas and live near bodies of water.
According to popular folklore, Venezuelan clergy wrote to the Pope ‘ever between the 16th and 18th centuries’ in which they told how they had discovered an animal that lived in water and had webbed feet.
They asked the Vatican to grant the animal the status of a fish so that they could eat it during Lent, when many were preparing to fast from meat.
The Catholic Church agreed and the capybara retains a special gastronomic status, serving as an Easter delicacy in parts of South America to this day.
It is said that the largest rodent in the world tastes more like salt pork than fish.
The escape of a young capybara from a Shropshire zoo sparked an online frenzy late last year.
Cinnamon the capybara escaped from Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World on September 13 after being startled by a tractor mower.
She was quickly spotted with a thermal drone about 200 meters from the edge of the zoo.
As she quietly enjoys grazing in lush fields, owner Will said she was probably “living her best life.”
A man armed with a stick arrives on the scene to help
The fugitive rodent Cinnamon escaped from her enclosure in September last year
Before her rescue, there were fears that Cinnamon might have wandered into neighboring Defense Department land.
Cinnamon was fortunately captured on September 20 and lured into a cage by rescuers.
The zoo that cares for Cinnamon said there was great interest in their work in the story and it inspired stuffed animals, magnets and clothing.
There was talk of a children’s book being written, and Will said he even kept “hearing rumors” about a movie in the works.