Dolphin drama: Unexpected visitor drops in on fishing trip
A peaceful fishing trip changed in an instant. "One minute everything was fine and then just like lightning striking, there’s a big dolphin in our boat thrashing around and breaking everything," admitted Dean Harrison, the boat owner, quoted by CNN. The surprised men embarked on an unusual rescue operation.
The extraordinary incident occurred off the coast of New Zealand, where three men were on a fishing trip. While fishing, they noticed dolphins, and moments later heard a loud crash. Then a large one, weighing about 400 kg, landed on their boat.
Unusual incident
Dean Harrison and his two companions were fishing near Hole in the Rock. It wasn't their first visit to this spot for fishing. This time, the peaceful trip turned into an incredible story. "One minute everything was fine and then just like lightning striking, there’s a big dolphin in our boat thrashing around and breaking everything," Harrison recounted, quoted by CNN.
The dolphin, by jumping onto the boat, damaged fishing equipment, and one of the fishermen sustained minor injuries. The men immediately contacted local services for help, as the weight of the dolphin made it impossible for them to return it to the water. They were directed to a slipway about an hour away, where rescuers were waiting for them.
During transport, the men ensured the dolphin’s wellbeing by pouring water over it and shielding it from the sun. Upon reaching the shore, specialists and members of the Māori tribe were ready, and they offered a prayer for the animal. The dolphin, named Tohu, which means "sign" in the Māori language, safely returned to the sea. "The dolphin got to swim away and we got to walk away and we’ve all got a story to tell," summarised Harrison.
The individual that leapt from the water and found itself on the boat is a common bottlenose dolphin. Adults can weigh up to 500 kg and reach lengths of up to 3.8 metres.
