Three fishermen in Northland, New Zealand, experienced a shocking incident when a 400kg bottlenose dolphin leaped into their boat. Dean Harrison, Milton Brookland, and Aysten Holbrow were fishing near Cape Brett when the dolphin suddenly jumped into their vessel.
The impact sent fishing gear flying as the dolphin thrashed around. Holbrow sustained a suspected hairline fracture from the dolphin's tail. The men managed to contact the Department of Conservation (DoC), who advised them to keep the dolphin cool and shaded. They covered the dolphin with towels and hosed it down while heading to shore.
DoC staff and local Māori met them at Waitangi boat ramp. A specialist examined the dolphin, a juvenile male, and found only minor scratches. After further checks, the dolphin, named Tohu (meaning "sign"), was released back into the water. The fishermen feel incredibly lucky to have survived the ordeal, acknowledging how easily it could have been fatal. Harrison has since named his boat Tohu.