Cierra Stockard thought she was in for the time of her life.
And then disaster struck.
A Tennessee woman’s dream vacation turned into a spring break nightmare when dolphins sent her to the hospital.
Tennessee tourist hospitalized after dolphin encounter gone horribly wrong
Tennessee mother Cierra Stockard was enjoying a tropical getaway with friends on March 16 in Jamaica when a popular spring break activity landed her in the emergency room.
Stockard purchased a “Dolphin Royal Swim” excursion at Dolphin Cove, an experience that allows tourists to interact directly with the marine mammals.
According to the company’s website, visitors can have dolphins “foot-push you to then splash into the water at maximum speed” and even stand on the backs of dolphins for photo opportunities.
But Stockard’s encounter with the aquatic mammals took a terrifying turn when she lost her balance while being carried by two dolphins.
“The dolphin on my left side was kind of swimming a little bit faster than the dolphin on my right side, so it made me unbalanced,” Stockard told “Good Morning America.”
When she slipped, Stockard fell directly onto one of the dolphin’s fins, causing an impact that she described as devastating.
“It felt like I was in a car accident because it hit me super hard,” Stockard said. “I started panicking. It did knock the wind out of me.”
The situation was particularly dangerous for Stockard, who has sickle cell anemia, a blood disorder that affects hemoglobin.
She was rushed to a hospital in Montego Bay, where doctors discovered she had developed a “grapefruit-sized hematoma” requiring emergency surgery.
Remarkably, Stockard believes the dolphins attempted to help her after the accident.
“They came and rubbed against me, and stopped their bodies from swimming to be right beside me,” she said.
Florida cracks down on dangerous spring break activities
This incident comes as Florida officials have been aggressively cracking down on spring break festivities across the state.
Miami Beach and other popular destinations have implemented strict regulations following years of unruly crowds, drinking violations, and dangerous activities.
Last week, authorities in Panama City Beach cleared an entire section of beach after crowds became unmanageable, with reports of underage drinking and dangerous water activities.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation in 2023 granting local authorities expanded powers to control spring break crowds after several high-profile incidents, including a shooting in Miami Beach that injured nine people.
Fort Lauderdale Police have been turning away rowdy spring breakers at popular beaches in record numbers this season.
Travel safety experts warn that seemingly harmless tourist activities can pose unexpected dangers, especially in foreign countries where safety regulations may be less stringent than in the United States.
Stockard finally returned home to Tennessee on March 24, eight days after the incident, but required additional medical treatment at a local hospital.
“Luckily, I’m in stable condition and [I’m not] all the way on my deathbed,” Stockard said.
Dolphin Cove did not respond to requests for comment about the incident or their safety protocols.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale for the thousands of college students and families planning spring break getaways this season.
Even as Florida authorities crack down on dangerous beach activities, this case shows that even regulated tourist attractions can turn dangerous in an instant.
