Husband fights to help both wife and 350lb animal, heading to southern California harbor before setting dolphin free

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A dolphin leaped on to a boat in southern California, crashing into a woman and breaking both her ankles.

Chrissie Frickman was boating with her husband and two children on 21 June when a pod of dolphins swam alongside them. One of the animals jumped on the vessel, knocking Frickman over and landing on her legs, the Orange County Register reported.

Her husband, Dirk, pulled her out and called authorities as he headed toward an Orange County harbor. While he steered, he splashed water on the 350lb dolphin to keep it alive as it thrashed around and bled from some cuts.

“I could hear my phone buzzing and beeping on the floor – it was covered in blood,” he said.

Dirk Frickman got help pulling the dolphin on to a dock with a rope and then releasing it.

“The dolphin was hopefully saved,” Frickman said. “It swam away with no problem.”

His wife is still recovering from her injuries.

Sergeant DJ Haldeman of the harbor patrol confirmed the incident. He said sea lions have been known to jump aboard boats, but that this is the first he’s heard of a dolphin doing the same.

“I don’t know what was in the water, but something must have scared it out,” Haldeman said.