{"id":3968,"date":"2025-08-20T06:11:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T06:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=3968"},"modified":"2025-08-20T06:11:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T06:11:52","slug":"terrifying-scenes-unfolded-in-a-dorset-bay-when-reggie-the-dolphin-once-treated-like-a-playful-attraction-suddenly-turned-dangerous-repeatedly-ramming-and-pushing-a-swimmer-beneath-the-sur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=3968","title":{"rendered":"Terrifying scenes unfolded in a Dorset bay when Reggie the dolphin, once treated like a playful attraction, suddenly turned dangerous \u2014 repeatedly ramming and pushing a swimmer beneath the surface in what witnesses feared was a near drowning. At first, beachgoers thought it was harmless fun, but the screams told a different story as panic spread through the water. Experts have now warned that the dolphin, often approached by na\u00efve tourists, is powerful enough to cause serious injuries \u2014 or worse. A chilling video shows swimmers grinning and splashing just seconds before chaos erupts, the dolphin circling far too close for comfort… WATCH VIDEO BELOW \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"

A group of kayakers have claimed they were forced to rescue swimmers after Reggie the dancing dolphin started to \u2018nearly drown\u2019 two women \u2013 days after marine experts warned he could go on the attack.<\/p>\n

The solitary bottlenose dolphin, believed to be a young male, captured hearts after video emerged of him excitedly playing with a family and asking for belly rubs in Lyme Bay, Dorset, earlier this month.<\/p>\n

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But experts have warned that Reggie could become increasingly aggressive and launch a fatal attack due to the amount of human interaction he is engaging with.<\/p>\n

The Daily Mail understands that the mammal arrived on its own in Lyme Bay in February, sparking concern from marine experts as dolphins usually travel together in pods.<\/p>\n

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The dolphin has become a frequent sight in Lyme Bay, but in July it suffered a nasty gash which is believed to have been caused by a boat propellor.<\/p>\n

Footage then emerged of the creature leaping vertically out of the water before swimming in and around Lynda MacDonald, 50, her partner, her son and his girlfriend on August 3.<\/p>\n

Now kayaker, Rhys Paterson, 32, has revealed how he was forced to intervene, along with another boater, after Reggie began jumping on top of a woman swimming off the beach in Lyme Regis \u2013 pushing her head repeatedly under the water.<\/p>\n

Footage shows the swimmer saying \u2018It scared me to death! Oh my goodness!\u2019 before being pushed under the waves on August 14.<\/p>\n

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New footage from a kayak has emerged of Reggie apparently targeting swimmers in Dorset bay<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The solitary bottlenose dolphin, believed to be a young male, has gone viral after adorable footage emerged of it excitedly playing with a family and asking for belly rubs in Lyme Bay, Dorset, on August 3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The dolphin seen frolicking with swimmers in Lyme Bay has nasty injuries, likely caused by a boat propellor<\/p>\n

Rhys, a development director from Lyme Regis, said the filmed incident was not the only confrontation and the dolphin appeared to be \u2018targeting women in wetsuits\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018We saved two swimmers who were fairly deep, where the dolphin kept jumping on them,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

\u2018The dolphin was basically drowning this woman \u2013 it kind of jumped on her back four times.\u2019<\/p>\n

Describing how he and his brother, Gareth, came across the scene, Mr Paterson said: \u2018We had been following the dolphin for a little bit, because obviously, it\u2019s quite a local legend at the minute.<\/p>\n

\u2018But when we realised it wasn\u2019t playing it was quite a big shock.<\/p>\n

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Should swimming with wild dolphins be banned?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u2018People need to understand that it\u2019s not an amusement arcade. It\u2019s a wild animal. It can snap all of a sudden if it wants to.\u2019<\/p>\n

It comes after the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) warned the public to keep away from the lone dolphin.<\/p>\n

The organisation said human interaction can make dolphins lose their natural wariness, leading to \u2018injury or death\u2019.<\/p>\n

Jess Churchill-Bissett, head of marine conservation (wildlife) at MMO, said: \u2018Repeated human interaction inevitably disrupt their natural behaviours, increasing stress and potentially altering their temperament.<\/p>\n

\u2018Once habituated to humans, dolphins can lose their natural wariness, a change that can be fatal. This is something we could already be seeing in Lyme Bay.<\/p>\n

\u2018They are also known to have become aggressive in cases and have attacked and injured people.\u2019<\/p>\n

Liz Sandeman, co-founder of the Marine Connection Charity, warned: \u2018This is the worst case of a dolphin becoming rapidly habituated to close human interaction in 20 years in the UK, with risks to the safety of the dolphin and people in the water with him likely increasing over time.\u2019<\/p>\n

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New footage emerged over the weekend showing ignorant tourists paddling next to viral dolphin Reggie, with young children in the water<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The tourists have ignored warnings to stay away from the bottlenose dolphin, who could harm or even kill someone<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The dolphin, who is visibly injured and has gashes on its side, was seen circling around tourists on Friday evening<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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