A Miracle At Sea: Dolphins save long-distance swimmer from shark attack

A group of dolphins came to the rescue of Adam Walker, a British long-distance swimmer during a marathon swim off the coast of New Zealand! The group of dolphins sensed the danger and escorted Walker back to safety.

Adam Walker was in the middle of his swim to conquer the Cook Strait, crossing from Wellington to Perano Head. A wide stretch of open ocean filled with aquatic life. It is regarded as one of the world's toughest oceans due to its mixed currents.

The British swimmer spent weeks preparing for his challenge, but didn't expect to run into a Great White shark!

Walker spotted a six-foot shark beneath him and began to panic. However, almost immediately after, a pod of 10 dolphins swam up beside him, deterring the shark from any attacks.

"I'd like to think they were protecting me and guiding me home. This swim will stay with me forever," Walker told the Mirror.

"It would be nice to think the dolphins stayed with me and were thinking 'We'll just help our pal get through," shared Walker during an interview.

Shortly after the shark realised he was not invited to the party. he swam away. The dolphins continued to escort Walker for more than an hour as he swam to the Cook Straits.

Coincidentally, Walker was training for a fundraiser swim in order to raise money for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Charity. Did they know something?

The British swimmer finished his 26-kilometer swim across the Cook Straits and can now add it to the list. Walker has conquered six of the seven oceans! Only the Irish Sea remains to complete the global objective.

Dolphins and sharks have an interesting relationship, one could compare them to dogs and cats. Dolphins are an average of 2-8 meters long, just slightly smaller than sharks. Nevertheless, a pod of dolphins can kill a full-grown shark.

Dolphins have been known in the past to rescue swimmers out in the open ocean. In 2004, a pod of dolphins saved some swimmers off the New Zealand coast.

Lifeguard Rob Howes told The Northern Advocate in New Zealand that dolphins had treated his lifeguard team in a similar fashion, pushing them closer to their pod when they spotted a large great white shark near Ocean Beach.

"They started to herd us up, they pushed all four of us together doing tight circles around us," Howes shared during an interview.

While out in the ocean, there is not much one can control to ensure their safety. For life-threatening situations like this, it is best to keep calm and be aware of your surroundings at all times. The ocean can be a dangerous place but at the same time one of the most beautiful places on earth.