FUKUI, Aug 21, 2024 (News On Japan) - A summer beach outing turned into a scene of chaos as a dolphin attacked a child, leaving beachgoers in shock and panic.
The incident occurred on the morning of the 20th at a beach in Fukui Prefecture, where a camera captured the harrowing moments. The footage shows a child in a yellow life jacket struggling desperately to escape from something. Nearby, a dorsal fin can be seen cutting through the water—it was a wild dolphin attacking the child.
A man, upon witnessing the attack, approached the dolphin in an attempt to rescue the child. The situation quickly escalated as other beachgoers rushed to safety on a nearby floating island. The video recorded the tense moments as people on the shore shouted in concern, with voices calling out, "Protect them! Are they okay? Here it comes!" and "Someone's fallen off!"
The person who filmed the event described the scene: "Just minutes before, I was swimming, but something made me come ashore. When I looked back, there was already a dolphin there, in such shallow water that even adults could stand. The child’s hands were bitten, and when they came out of the water, they were covered in blood."
Due to the dolphin's appearance, swimming at the beach was immediately prohibited. According to the Japan Coast Guard, a man in his 50s who had tried to help the child was injured during the rescue.
The attack took place at Mizushima Beach in Tsuruga City. Just the day before, another incident occurred at the same beach where a woman in her 40s was bitten on the right hand by a dolphin, resulting in minor injuries.
Fukui Prefecture has seen a series of similar incidents involving wild dolphins around the Tsuruga Peninsula. To date, 17 cases of injuries caused by wild dolphins have been confirmed.
The unexpected dolphin attack during the height of summer vacation has left beachgoers shaken. The person who captured the incident remarked, "It's disappointing when injuries occur. The child said, 'I always thought dolphins were cute and gentle, but now I'm scared.'"
The Japan Coast Guard is urging the public to immediately leave the water and stay away if they spot a dolphin.
Source: FNN
