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Dead dolphin found dumped in garden
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| SICK JOKE: Gary Harvey, left, Mike Elliott and PC Garry Mason with the dolphin Picture: FINNBARR WEBSTER/F6970 |
TWO Royal Navy engineers discovered a dead dolphin in their garden.
Gary Harvey and Mike Elliott woke up to find the dead marine mammal lying in the front garden at their home in Courtlands Road, Weston.
Mr Harvey, 23, said: "I looked out the window to see what the weather was like and I just saw it lying there. I didn't have a clue what it was.
"I came down to have a closer look and saw it was a dolphin or porpoise about two or three feet long.
"To be honest at first I thought it was a garden ornament or something along those lines, but when I smelt it and saw its teeth I realised it was a real dolphin.
"I didn't know what to do with it. I tried to lift it up and it was quite heavy so we decided to leave it.
"I went into Weymouth Police Station and reported it because obviously they are an endangered species."
Mr Elliott, 28, added: "Gary told me to look out the window. When I saw it I was just a bit scared - it's not something you expect to see every day!
"We thought it wasn't real at first and we were going to move it ourselves, but then we thought we would leave it to the police.
"It could have been some sort of sick joke, but it's pretty sad for someone to go and do that."
Mr Harvey said he was gobsmacked' and had absolutely no idea how the creature came to be in their garden.
He said: "I didn't hear anything. It must have happened between when I last looked out at 11pm and when I got up at 6am.
"It may have been a kind of prank that has just gone over the top, but we haven't had any trouble round this area before."
PC Garry Mason said: "We have been in touch with our marine section and dolphins can carry quite nasty diseases so it has be referred to the local authority's environmental health team, who will come up and recover the species.
"All our enquiries have led to a blank at the moment. Nobody has seen or heard anything but we would request anybody with information to get in touch."
PC Mason added that it was currently unknown whether the dolphin had been killed maliciously.
Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police on 01305 222222.
A spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council confirmed the environmental health team had removed the dolphin and will carry out tests on the dead mammal before disposing of it.
10:17am Friday 18th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ask Archie, Weymouth on 12:12pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Classic Echo photo again! All look at the big fish frown and click.Come on guys your supposed to be professional snappers.Use your imagination.
Classic Echo photo again! All look at the big fish frown and click.Come on guys your supposed to be professional snappers.Use your imagination.
Posted by: Albo, Wyke Regis on 1:19pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Archie's right. One of the three should at least be pointing at poor, dead Beaky.
Archie's right. One of the three should at least be pointing at poor, dead Beaky.
Posted by: Little Joe, west dorset on 2:58pm Fri 18 Jul 08
what do you expect them to do, dance with it? So long and thanks for all the fish.
what do you expect them to do, dance with it? So long and thanks for all the fish.
Posted by: Little Joe, west dorset on 3:06pm Fri 18 Jul 08
what do you expect them to do, dance with it? So long and thanks for all the fish.
what do you expect them to do, dance with it? So long and thanks for all the fish.
Posted by: Shy-Talk, Weymouth on 4:59pm Fri 18 Jul 08
I shudder to think of the size of the seagull that dropped that dolphin !!
I shudder to think of the size of the seagull that dropped that dolphin !!
Posted by: spangler on 5:13pm Fri 18 Jul 08
[quote]It could have been some sort of sick joke[/quote]
Ah the old dead dolphin in the garden gag. An absolute classic.
It could have been some sort of sick joke
Ah the old dead dolphin in the garden gag. An absolute classic.
Posted by: jac, weymouth on 5:37pm Fri 18 Jul 08
maybe they are telling it to 'play dead'. That's a well trained dolphin!
maybe they are telling it to 'play dead'. That's a well trained dolphin!
Posted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 6:21pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Obviously been watching that documentary about flying fish.
Obviously been watching that documentary about flying fish.
Posted by: nige, dorchester on 8:32pm Fri 18 Jul 08
[quote]Mr Elliott, 28, added: "Gary told me to look out the window. When I saw it I was just a bit scared - it's not something you expect to see every day![/quote] Why would he be scared of a dead fish? Perhaps he is the same sailor who cried when he had his IPOD stolen.
Mr Elliott, 28, added: "Gary told me to look out the window. When I saw it I was just a bit scared - it's not something you expect to see every day!
Why would he be scared of a dead fish? Perhaps he is the same sailor who cried when he had his IPOD stolen.
Posted by: pp, Portland on 8:40pm Fri 18 Jul 08
I think someone put it there on porpoise.
I think someone put it there on porpoise.
Posted by: jac, weymouth on 8:57pm Fri 18 Jul 08
grooaaaaaan @ PP lol
Posted by: pat, uk on 11:43pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Good old 'Ask Archie' and 'Albo', take a look at all the pics on all the national websites-crouch next to fish, look at camera and click. Begs the question what did you expect....mouth to mouth!
Good old 'Ask Archie' and 'Albo', take a look at all the pics on all the national websites-crouch next to fish, look at camera and click. Begs the question what did you expect....mouth to mouth!
Posted by: Fabian, Weymouth on 10:28pm Sat 19 Jul 08
High tide perhaps?
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