A rower has been praised for staying calm when a curious seal pup climbed aboard her kayak in a river five miles from the sea.
It tried to hitch a lift from Louise Manning in her narrow single skull boat on the River Dart in Totnes, Devon.
The town is around five miles up river from the English Channel.
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The heartwarming scene was videoed by Corentyn Smith.
“I’ve never seen a seal that far up the river,” Corentyn told What’s The Jam.
“I’m not sure how common it is for one to climb on a rower’s boat.
“Perhaps they’re friends and this happens all the time.
“It was quite special though.”
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Sarah Greenslade of The Seal Project praised the rower for staying calm.
She said: “Beautiful, well done to the skiff rower for remaining calm and still.
“I know how easily unbalanced the rower could have been.
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“This is a beautiful encounter but not something that should be sought out.
“Seals are wild creatures and whilst this is an inquisitive juvenile, they are wild and only have teeth and claws to explore the world with.”
Louise Manning, who rows on the Dart about four times a week, said she has never had one on her boat before.
“It was quite special,” she added.
“I hope it happens again, but I’m not sure it will.”
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