Dolphins save peoples lives

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http://www.wral.com/news/3944080/detail.html

Dolphins Protect Swimmers From Shark Attack

POSTED: 3:25 pm EST November 23, 2004

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- A New Zealand lifeguard said it was a group of dolphins that did the life-saving when he and some other swimmers were threatened by a shark.

Rob Howes said he was swimming with his 15-year-old daughter and two friends when a group of dolphins started circling the swimmers and herding them into a tight group.

He didn't know why they were doing it -- until he spotted a great white shark cruising toward them.

Howes told a newspaper, the Northern Advocate, that the dolphins "pushed all four of us together by doing tight circles around us."

When he tried to drift away from the group, two of the bigger dolphins herded him back.

He said seven dolphins stayed with them for 40 minutes, swimming in circles and slapping the water with their tails.

Previous Stories:

* November 16, 2004: Shark Estimated At 18 Feet Long Kills Woman

* August 17, 2004: California Records First Fatal Shark Attack This Year

* August 4, 2004: Couple Marries In Shark-Infested Waters

* August 2, 2004: Bitten Boy Learns Shark Defense From Discovery Channel

* October 31, 2003: Shark Bites Off Hawaii Girl's Arm

* November 19, 2002: San Diego Woman Attacked By Shark On Maui

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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