Lymington resident Alvin Robinson, 42, rushed down to get a look at the aquatic mammal when his son Billi, 15, who had been fishing on Bridge Road, saw the dolphin.
It had been ‘casually’ swimming near Bridge Road at around 6.30pm.
Alvin said: “My son Billi was fishing on the bridge and saw the dolphin.
“He called me, so I went down in my car. He said, ‘Dad, you won’t believe this, there is a dolphin at the bridge’.
“I left immediately as I was only two minutes away.
“We watched it swim around for about 15 minutes, and it headed out of the harbour.
“It didn’t seem distressed was just casually swimming around.”
Alvin and his son Billi (Image: Alvin Robinson)
Around 15 others, mainly holidaygoers, joined Alvin and Billi to watch the spectacle, and said it “made their holiday”.
“I used to work on the river for 15 years, and it’s only the second time I’ve seen a dolphin,” added Alvin.
“It was great to see, many spectators joined us and watched quietly till it swam away.
“Billi was absolutely amazed by it all. He’s a keen fisherman and has never seen a dolphin before.
“He was very speechless at the time, but can’t stop talking about it now. Definitely something we won’t forget.”