Swimmers urged to avoid 'boisterous' dolphin

Reggie the dolphin (pictured in July) is often seen in Lyme Bay

People are being urged to avoid an area of water where a "boisterous" dolphin was seen jumping on two swimmers.

Charity Marine Connection said growing interaction with the bottlenose - which is frequently seen in the Lyme Bay area of Dorset - is becoming increasingly dangerous for both the dolphin and the public.

It comes a week after a pair of kayakers rescued two people in separate incidents after the dolphin - known locally as Reggie - reportedly pushed them underwater.

Liz Sandeman, co-founder of the charity, said that Reggie "definitely wasn't being aggressive", but that he was "playful" and "boisterous" and did not understand the damage he could do with his 1,000lb (453kg) weight.

"The more people that enter the water, the more he'll become playful and boisterous," she said.

"I've seen dolphins doing this before towards swimmers, where they'll dunk them under the water."

Ms Sandeman urged both locals and visitors to the area to stay out of the water where Reggie has been spotted.

"I think if they move even a quarter of the mile down the coast, that would help," she said.

"He's not adult yet, so over the coming months he will get bigger, he will become more powerful."

Most whales and dolphins are highly social and live in pods with their own kind - but some individuals, like Reggie, become solitary for reasons that are unclear, according to the charity.

That can cause problems when they eventually become used to people, it said.

Brothers Gareth (front) and Rhys Paterson were kayaking in Lyme Bay when they spotted women in distress near the dolphin last Thursday

In 2018, another solitary male bottlenose dolphin named Danny became well-known in Portland, Dorset, and was often seen following boats and engaging with divers.

But in 2020, Danny was killed by a vessel.

Experts from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have previously warned that dolphins are "unpredictable wild animals" and advised swimmers to stay at least 100m (328ft) away.

They also reminded people that dolphins, whales and porpoises are protected by law.

The MMO has asked boaters to go slowly and keep speed below six knots if they spot Reggie.