A couple of weeks ago a disorientated dolphin leapt onto a boat in southern California, crashing into one woman and breaking her ankles before punching her daughter in the face.

Celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary and Father’s Day, Chrissie Frickman, her husband and their two children were onboard the boat on June 21 when the incident occurred.

For reasons unknown, the dolphin became separated from its pod that was swimming alongside the family’s vessel. After jumping onto the boat, the confused dolphin, weighing about 159 kilograms (350 pounds), dived into Mrs Frickman, crushing her legs. Frantically thrashing around in its unfamiliar environment, the cetacean managed to further injure itself and punched Mrs Frickman’s daughter in the face.

Her husband, Dirk, set sail for Dana Point Harbor, splashing water on the dolphin to keep it alive. “I was letting go of the wheel every 30 seconds to a minute and slowing down and pouring water on it,” Mr Frickman told the Orange County Register. “I could hear my phone buzzing and beeping on the floor - it was covered in blood. The dolphin was hopefully saved. It swam away with no problem.”

Mr Frickman was assisted by Harbor Patrol officers in releasing the animal back into open waters.

Harbor Patrol Sgt. DJ Haldeman, who confirmed the incident, said: “I don’t know what was in the water, but something must have scared it out.” Haldeman insisted he’d heard of sea lions becoming sudden stowaways on boats but never dolphins.

The Frickmans are recovering from their respective injuries and this bizarre ordeal.

[Via BBC, Orange County Register, Telegraph]