Purpoise-terous? Former Olympian claims to have spotted a dolphin swimming in the Thames

  • Swimmer Andy James saw a fin pop out of the water in Richmond, London
  • 15-second clip shows a dark fin poking out of the water before diving below 
  • After posting video on Twitter many users claimed it was a 'Harbour Porpoise' 

By Rachael Burford For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

An Olympian claims he spotted a 'lost dolphin' swimming through the Thames.

Swimmer Andy James whipped out his camera phone when he saw a fin pop out of the water in Richmond, South West London, on Monday.

Posting the short video on Twitter he wrote: 'Ok .... you may all think I'm mad, but I just saw a Dolphin in the river Thames at Richmond.'  

Swimmer Andy James whipped out his camera phone when he saw a dolphin swimming in the Thames in Richmond on May 1

Swimmer Andy James whipped out his camera phone when he saw a fin pop out of the water in Richmond, South West London

The 15-second clip shows a dark fin poking out of the water before diving below the surface. 

Mr James, who won bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, said the marine animal was travelling up the river from Twickenham before reaching boats moored near Richmond Bridge.

Mr James later tweeted: 'I felt quite the David Attenborough on this morning's walk along the Thames … I spotted a porpoise, a Dipper & lots of green parrots,' referring to the famous feral rose-ringed parakeets which live in the suburbs around Kingston and Twickenham. 

The clip had Twitter users debating whether it was a dolphin or another marine animal.  

Some pointed out that the creature was most likely a 'Harbour Porpoise', a small marine animal that sometimes ventures into rivers.

Mr James, who won bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, said the marine animal was travelling up the river from Twickenham railway bridge before reaching the boats moored just before Richmond Bridge

Mr James, who won bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, said the marine animal was travelling up the river from Twickenham railway bridge before reaching the boats moored just before Richmond Bridge

Blue Planet Society appeared to confirm the theory, writing: 'It looks more like a harbour porpoise. But still an amazing sight 40-plus miles from the sea.' 

But others were sure Mr James had spotted a whale or even a shark. 

One user wrote: 'From the looks of the vid it's a Harbour Porpoise, rather than a dolphin, which is still very exciting.' 

Another said: 'We saw it last week, think it could be a porpoise.'

Others were not convinced, with one user simply writing: 'Shark?' 

The clip had Twitter users debating whether it was a dolphin or another marine animal. Some pointed out that the creature was most likely a 'Harbour Porpoise'

The clip had Twitter users debating whether it was a dolphin or another marine animal. Some pointed out that the creature was most likely a 'Harbour Porpoise'

According to the ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, which has been collecting marine mammals public sighting data since 2004, there have been seven dolphin sightings in the Thames this year along with 12 harbour porpoises and 53 grey seals.  

It is not the first time an unusual animal has been spotted lurking in Richmond's waters. 

In 2015 people claimed they saw the deadliest animal in Africa swimming through Bushy Park’s boating pond. 

But a Royal Parks spokesman rubbished the claims that a hippopotamus, typically native to sub-Saharan Africa, was in the water and said it was most likely a 'remote control' toy.  

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