A Heartwarming Encounter Dolphins Save Swimmer from Shark Attack
In a remarkable incident in New Zealand, a brave pod of dolphins came to the rescue of a British swimmer, shielding him from a potential shark attack. Adam Walker, a Nottingham native, shared his awe-inspiring experience of how these majestic marine creatures formed a protective barrier around him, deterring a 6ft shark from launching its assault.
Adam had ventured into open water in 2014 with the hope of fulfilling his dream of swimming with dolphins. Little did he know that these incredible beings would exceed his expectations by fending off a lurking great white shark.
Despite being assured by a friend that there were no sharks in the area, Adam found himself facing a 6ft predator lurking beneath the surface of the Cook Strait. Battling fierce waves, he described the swim as akin to “swimming in a washing machine.”
To his astonishment, a pod of dolphins suddenly emerged, swimming in circles around him. Adam believes these intuitive animals had sensed the looming danger and chose to keep him safe during his open water swim.
In a Facebook post capturing the extraordinary experience, Adam wrote, “Dream come true swimming with dolphins over an hour…open-water swimming doesn’t get any better than this! I’d like to think they were protecting me and guiding me home. This swim will stay with me forever.”
Unaware of the shark’s presence during his time in the water, Adam only became aware of it upon exiting the sea. Expressing his discontent, he admitted confronting his friend for not mentioning the perilous encounter.
Dolphins are often targeted by sharks in the ocean and rely on their collective strength for protection. They retaliate against attacks by using their snout to prod the predators, targeting their vulnerable underbelly or gills.
According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) organization, dolphins’ main advantage against shark attacks is safety in numbers. They stick together in pods, defending one another by chasing and ramming the aggressor. In doing so, they safeguard vulnerable members of their pod and extended families, including young and injured or sick dolphins.
