Water calm, then a 900 pound dolphin jumps onto your boat

Water calm, then a 900 pound dolphin jumps onto your boat

A peaceful fishing trip was for three men from New Zealand to chaos as one over 400 Kilogram of heavy dolphin apparently fell out of the sky and landed in her little boat. The men experienced an unexpected sight when the 3.4-meter-long stubborn dolphin jumped into her open boat.

The unexpected event at sea

Dean Harrison, the owner of the almost 5 meter long boat, reported that nobody was seriously injured. Harrison and his two companions fished near the picturesque "Hole in the Rock" on the north coast of New Zealand while the dolphins played around them. Suddenly they saw a shadow that scurried over the glaring summer sun, followed by a deafening bang before the chaos started.

dolphin jumps on board

"This dolphin decided to jump on board and say hello," said Harrison. "For a minute everything was fine, and then, like a lightning strike, there was a huge dolphin in our boat that snapped around and broke everything." His dishes were damaged by the wild fidget of the dolphin, and the boat was causing serious damage to the front, while the three men held on to the sides of the boat.

The challenge of saving the dolphin

Since the majestic dolphin was too big to simply bring it back into the water, the men decided to help him. "We saw the still living dolphin who breathed, and thought we had to take care of him and find out what to do," said Harrison. "He is now sitting in the boat, so he comes with us on the journey."

The rescue action

The men informed the New Zealand nature conservation authority and received instructions to drive to a boat pier that was an hour away where helpers were already waiting for the dolphin's arrival. On the way there they kept the dolphin damp with a hose and protected it with a wet towel that played the player of the All Black Rugby team.

reunification with the sea

Members of a local Māori tribe for the dolphin prayed on the bank before being brought back into the sea with a tractor. The name Tohu was given to the 2- to 3-year-old dolphin, which means “sign” in the Māori language. Tohu is now also the name of Dean Harrison's boot.

a happy ending

"The dolphin could swim away and we could go and we all have a story to tell," said Harrison. "It is a good end in a situation that could have gone very differently."