At first the Frickman family was delighted to see dolphins swimming alongside their boat. But then one jumped in, broke someone's ankles, and "punched" a 16-year-old girl.
The Orange County Register reported that the family of four was out sailing near Dana Point harbor, in Orange County, California, on 21 June, when the 350lbs dolphin jumped in to their boat.
The animal landed on Chrissie Frickman, crushing her legs. The boat became splattered with blood from injuries to the dolphin's nose and tail.
Her husband, Dirk Frickman, pulled her free. He told the OC Register: "It hit my wife and knocked her over, and punched my daughter.
"I could hear my phone buzzing and beeping on the floor – it was covered in blood."
The couple were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary.