Charmouth seal of approval (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Charmouth seal of approval

4:12pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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TWO schoolboys had the fright of their lives while bathing in the sea off West Dorset.

Ben Perry and Dom Turrell, both aged 12, feared a shark was too close for comfort when a large creature brushed their legs.

But their initial worries turned to joy after discovering it was a seal frolicking around them.

The Woodroffe School pupils spotted the creature while bathing in the sea off Charmouth on Sunday morning.

Ben, of Ellesdon, Charmouth, said: “I was standing in the water at the rocks and something hit my legs. I nearly fell over so I grabbed the rocks, then felt something brushing on the other side of me.

“When it hit my leg I thought it might have been a shark so I was pretty scared. I stayed as still as possible because I knew if I ran it would probably chase me.

“I looked over at Dom and I saw something poke out of the water, like a back, and it was quite dark. I thought it might have been a dog and I thought, ‘phew’.

“Then a head poked out of the water about a metre behind Dom and I ran out of the water. I didn’t know what it was because it had whiskers and looked really spiky.”

Dom, of Hammonds Mead, Charmouth, thought his friend was joking at first.

He said: “Ben got all anxious and got out of the water so I asked him what was wrong and he said he felt something on his leg.

“I just thought he was making it up or something. I was just about to get out of the water when Ben said ‘Dom, get out of the water quickly’, because he saw the head.”

The duo said it disappeared under the water and popped up again.

“As soon as I saw its head I knew it was a seal,” said Dom. “I have seen one in Portland but I have never been that close to one. We don’t know why he was in so shallow.”

The seal then swam up and down the bay, entertaining the crowds who by now had their binoculars and cameras out to watch it play.

Ben thinks it was a grey seal and estimates it was around a metre-and-a-half long adult. However, experts say although seals look cuddly and cute they could still pose a threat to bathers because of their ‘nasty bite’.

The RSPCA has warned that if the seal is seen again, it should not be approached as it is in the creature’s nature to be quite aggressive.

RSPCA wildlife manager Alison Charles said: “They are large mammals and can be dangerous when cornered or frightened and will defend themselves. They do have nasty bite but the public should not be anywhere near the mouth.

“My advice would be enjoy seals in their natural habit, but from a distance. Keep dogs and people away from injured seals and call for professional help.”

Ben said his encounter did not seem threatening and was more like a nudge to let him know it was there.

But the RSPCA said this could be a sign the seal is in trouble. A spokesman said: “If the seal did not appear a little aggressive this would be more unusual and could be a sign that the animal is sick.”

Seals are frequent visitors along the Jurassic Coast but very rarely do they come so close to the shore. Rare sightings near the shore have included a pup, nicknamed Sammy the Seal, which took up residence in Lyme Regis harbour in 2002, entertaining passers-by with its fish-catching exploits and climbing up the steps onto the harbour wall.

In 2006, harbour staff at Lyme Regis went to the rescue of a seal which had got itself tangled up in mooring ropes at the Cobb.

Luckily the seal escaped unhurt.

In the same year, a 6ft seal was spotted close to Weymouth beach and was thought to be a common or grey seal.

Last year, a grey seal splashed into Portland harbour and swam on to the rocks to entertain spectators.

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