Fisherman shocked after a dolphin suddenly jumps into his boat while cruising near Stradbroke Island
An Australian fisherman was left stunned after a dolphin jumped three meters into the air and landed in the back of his boat.
Bo Sawyer was on the water in Dunwich, on the western part of Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island, on Tuesday when the unexpected guest arrived on board.
“We just had a dolphin jump about 10 feet in the air, broke the console and he’s in the boat right now,” Sawyer said in a video shared on TikTok.
“We’re just waiting for a group of wild animals to come, and hopefully they will [can] get this poor guy out.”
Mr Sawyer said the dolphin was provided with a steady stream of water until conservation services arrived, adding that the marine animal was far too heavy to move on its own.
It took eight rangers from the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Minjerribah Wildlife Rescue to safely carry the dolphin back into the water.
Photos shared by the QYAC on social media showed rangers covering the animal with wet towels as they lifted it from the boat.
“A dolphin jumped onto a charter boat and our amazing QYAC Rangers, along with QPWS Rangers and Minjerribah Wildlife Rescue, quickly responded,” the report said.
Bo Sawyer was on the water in Dunwich, on the western part of Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island, on Tuesday when the unexpected guest jumped aboard
“Thanks to everyone involved, the dolphin was safely returned to the bay where it belongs.”
It appeared that the dolphin suffered minor scratches on its tail during the jump.
Adult bottlenose dolphins can weigh up to 200 kg, while calves can weigh up to 20 kg. Bottlenose dolphins can also grow to almost four meters in length.
Several viewers suggested that Mr Sawyer could have lifted the dolphin back into the water himself.
“Just pick it up and throw it back,” one person wrote.
“I would have dumped him back in the water or driven to a nearby boat or pier to get help instead of waiting,” another claimed.
However, many pointed out that dolphins were much heavier than they looked, with Mr Sawyer admitting he couldn’t even ‘move’ them.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation for further comment.
It took eight rangers to lift the heavy dolphin back into the water (photo)
The dolphin returned to the ocean unscathed after a herculean group effort (photo)