Swimmers encountering a wild bottlenose dolphin in waters off the south coast of England, believing it to be ‘friendly’, have been warned to keep away from the animal if approached.
‘Reggie the dancing dolphin’ was spotted earlier in August playing with swimmers in Lyme Bay, Dorset. Video footage of the encounter went viral online.
However, reports have surfaced that Reggie has since been displaying aggressive behaviour towards humans, especially ‘women wearing wetsuits’, according to a kayaker who was forced to intervene to prevent the dolphin harming a female swimmer.
Rhys Paterson, a kayaker from Lyme Regis, said he was forced to drive the dolphin away as Reggie repeatedly tried to push the woman’s head underwater.
‘We saved two swimmers who were fairly deep, where the dolphin kept jumping on them,’ he said. ‘The dolphin was basically drowning this woman – it kind of jumped on her back four times.
‘We had been following the dolphin for a little bit, because obviously it’s quite a local legend at the minute.
‘But when we realised it wasn’t playing, it was quite a big shock. People need to understand that it’s not an amusement arcade. It’s a wild animal. It can snap all of a sudden.’
Warning over dolphin interactions
Reggie, who appears to be a lone dolphin without a pod, was first seen in Lyme Bay in February 2025, but by May had become a regular visitor, prompting a warning from the UK’s Marine Management Organisation.
In a statement posted on the UK government’s website, a spokesperson for the MMO said: ‘A solitary bottlenose dolphin has become a frequent visitor to the area just outside Lyme Regis harbour, sparking excitement from both residents and visitors.
‘However, marine wildlife bodies and conservation authorities are issuing guidance following direct observation, reports, and video of people intentionally approaching the animal too closely.
‘The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Dorset Police and Dorset Wildlife Trust remind everyone that dolphins, whales and porpoises are protected by law.
‘It is an offence to intentionally approach or recklessly disturb these animals and could result in up to six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
‘Although seeing dolphins in the wild can be a special experience, irresponsible behaviour, particularly from those swimming, paddleboarding, jet-skiing or operating watercraft, can place the animal, or yourself at risk.’
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Dolphins harmed by human interaction
Since the footage of Reggie’s interactions went viral in August, he has been seen with what appears to be injuries from a boat’s propeller on the upper-right side of his body.
The injuries may be a result of Reggie seeking further human interactions and venturing into areas where boat strikes are more likely to occur.
The aggressive behaviour and injury sighting have prompted a second statement regarding Reggie’s welfare from the MMO.
‘We’re increasingly concerned about a lone dolphin spotted in Lyme Bay, Dorset, following multiple potential marine wildlife disturbance offences observed online and shared on social media.
‘Please remember: Never swim with, touch, feed, or approach dolphins. If a dolphin approaches you, calmly leave the area. Human interaction can cause dolphins to lose their natural wariness, leading to injury or even death. Disturbed dolphins are also known to become aggressive toward people.
‘Dolphins may seem friendly, but they are wild animals. The dolphin in Lyme Bay has already been injured by a suspected boat propeller.
‘Let’s protect them by keeping our distance and please share this message to respect their space.’
