Aussie surfer Eli Anderson, 20, was hospitalized after a bizarre encounter with a pod of dolphins during a routine surf session at Emerald Beach, New South Wales, on December 29, 2024.
Anderson, who was surfing with his father, Luke, described the event as unlike anything he had ever experienced. While out on the water, a group of approximately 20 dolphins, caught in a feeding frenzy, surrounded him, causing a violent collision that sent him tumbling off his board.
“It felt like I was hit by a car,” Anderson told The Daily Mail. “They came out of nowhere, and one of their fins sliced my board. I was knocked out and don’t remember much after that until I woke up on the beach.”
The force of the collision left Anderson unconscious and resulted in a fractured pelvis. He was quickly transported to Coffs Harbour Health Campus Hospital, where he is expected to recover within a few weeks.
Anderson, who has surfed the area for years, noted that sharks are the typical concern for surfers in the region. The beach was the site of a fatal shark attack in 2020 when Timothy Thompson, 31, was killed by a great white shark. However, dolphins are generally considered harmless and are rarely a cause for alarm.
“I’ve encountered sharks before and have even had a few close calls with smaller ones,” Anderson shared. “But I never imagined dolphins would pose a danger.”
Despite the trauma, Anderson remains determined to return to surfing, reflecting on the unusual nature of the incident.
“It’s taken me some time to process what happened, but nothing will stop me from surfing,” he said. “The dolphins were in their domain, and I’m fine with that. They won.”