Greek singer Ilianna Zerva has described a frightening encounter with a loggerhead sea turtle that left her injured while swimming in southern Greece.

Speaking about the incident, Zerva said she was swimming with three other people off the coast of Limeni in the Mani region when the turtle suddenly attacked her from behind.

“We were four people in the water. Suddenly, without realizing what was happening, the turtle came from behind and grabbed me by the hip,” she said. Although one of her friends managed to warn her that the animal was approaching, she said there was no time to react.

Fractured finger while trying to escape

According to Zerva, she tried to free herself by placing her hand inside the turtle’s mouth in an attempt to force it to release its grip.

That decision, however, resulted in more serious injuries.

“I suffered the worst injury there. I fractured my middle finger,” she said. “I was trying to open its mouth because I was afraid it would tear off part of my body. As soon as it let go of my hip, it bit my hand and wouldn’t let go.”

The singer said she sustained multiple bite wounds and showed the injuries, which remain visible, during a television interview.