Lifeboat required after swimmers off Salthill report ‘intimidating’ dolphin

Galway’s RNLI inshore lifeboat was called to assist swimmers off Salthill, Galway, yesterday evening after a dolphin was reported to be “intimidating” them.

The incident occurred at around 7.30pm, close to the diving tower at Blackrock. Eyewitnesses saw the dolphin circle the swimmers and approach in “an intimidating manner”, glancing off them with his tail and nose.

A fishing vessel came to the swimmers’ aid, before Galway RNLI Lifeboat arrived at the scene.

“The swimmers were very shook by the incident and one in particular was very shocked, but did not require medical assistance,” a member of the Galway RNLI inshore lifeboat crew said.

The lifeboat crew stayed in the area to ensure all swimmers reached shore and then did a sweep of the beach from Blackrock to Seapoint to warn others.

Galway RNLI lifeboat crew included helmsmen Ciarán Oliver, Stefanie Carr, David Badger and Seán King.