A man who survived a rare attack by a ‘sexually frustrated’ dolphin in Fukui, Japan, says he feels lucky to be alive. The dolphin, believed to be an Indo-Pacific bottlenose, has been responsible for at least 15 attacks this summer, terrorising swimmers along the coastline.
One of the victims, Takuma Goto, was swimming with a friend when the dolphin unexpectedly turned aggressive. Dolphin attacks on humans are uncommon, which made Takuma feel secure during his swim.
However, the situation quickly escalated when the dolphin first attacked his friend. Hearing his friend’s cries, Takuma swam to assist, only to find himself the next target of the unprovoked assault.
Speaking to *The Telegraph*, Takuma recalled the terrifying moment. “I knew it was not a shark, but it came straight at me. It attacked me and bit me. I genuinely believed I was going to die, especially because I feared being dragged under the water and further out to sea.”
The ordeal ended when a surfer came to Takuma’s aid while horrified onlookers watched from the beach. After returning to shore, Takuma washed his injuries with water, revealing that his finger was severely damaged. “The insides of my finger were popping out,” he said.
Takuma was later taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors stitched up a gash on his index finger that required five stitches. He also sustained bite wounds to his left wrist, forearm, and proper hand and arm.
Experts suggest the dolphin may have been trying to communicate through biting, a behaviour sometimes seen in isolated dolphins.
Since Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins typically live in groups, researchers believe this dolphin might have been ostracised by its community, leading to its aggressive interactions with humans.
Authorities have since placed warning signs along the beaches, alerting people to the risk of encountering the dolphin. The attacks, which reportedly include attempts by the dolphin to press its genitals against victims, have caused growing concern in the area.
Despite his survival, Takuma says the traumatic experience has left him unwilling to return to the sea.
