Unexpected Swimmer In Seal Tank At Woods Hole Aquarium

Visitors at the Woods Hole Science Aquarium got quite the surprise this week when a woman chose to jump the seal tank barrier and dive in for a swim.

Clearly being on the viewing side of the seal tank was not enough for one visitor at the Falmouth aquarium, because she decided to hop in and go for a swim. Literally.

Details on what her motivation might have been or to the woman's state of mind remain unclear, but the fact that she dove into the aquarium's outdoor tank and swam a few laps with their harbor seals, Kitt and Bubba is true.

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Onlookers watched in shock and she rode up the enclosure on her bike shortly after it opened at 11AM then without a word hopped in and started swimming.

Those who witnessed the swim say she was only in the tank for a few minutes before staff got her out. She then got back on her bike and simply rode away.

Falmouth Police were called and according Lieutenant Douglas DeCosta quickly "responded to the area and spoke with aquarium staff. While gathering information, another female approached the officer and reported that her daughter was suffering from a mental health crisis and had jumped into the outdoor seal enclosure as a result. The subject was later transported to Falmouth Hospital for a voluntary mental health evaluation."

Kitt and Bubba were likely surprised by their unexpected guest, but were not harmed by her foolish swim. Aquarium staff say though they were in the tank at the time, they were uninjured by the incident.