A FAMILY were visited by a rare dolphin in Newquay Bay as they were scattering the ashes of their loved one.

Margaret Ginger was pouring the ashes of her late husband Maurice into the sea at the Gazzle when the head of a Risso’s dolphin popped up by the side of their boat on Saturday, May 17.

The dolphin then jumped out of the water before disappearing.

A number of family members onboard believe the dolphin was the spirit of Maurice.

The boat travelled toward Towan Headland to see if they could catch another glimpse and a different Risso’s dolphin appeared, which preceded to put on a show that included a tail walk.

Stepson Nigel Ginger said: “I was gobsmacked by what happened.

“Initially when it popped up, I wasn’t sure if it was a Common Dolphin but then we saw the pure white on the dorsal fin.

“We followed where the dolphin was heading and another Risso’s breached by the headland three times and did a show for us, which included a tail walk.

“My two daughters were also on the boat and Maurice was their grandad.

“We looked up the Latin name for Risso’s dolphin and it is Grampus griseus, which is coincidental or not.

“What we believe is that the Risso’s dolphin that jumped out of the water was Maurice and the Risso’s that we saw at the headland was gramps Ronald Jeffries who had come to collect Maurice before waving goodbye.

The Risso's Dolphin put on a show for the family ( )

“The plan had been to scatter Maurice’s ashes in Spain where he had retired to with mum, but it is not legal to do that there.

“We had a get together in Newquay and mum dropped into the conversation that she had brought along Maurice’s ashes

“Maurice was never happier than when he was out fishing on a boat.

“He used to go out with Dave Trebilcock fishing in Newquay in the late 1980s and early 1990’s before moving to Spain so we thought that would be a good send off.

“My wife does not like boats but has always wanted to see dolphins so her chance of doing that was zero. But she decided to brave it to attend the occasion and was rewarded to see the Risso’s dolphin as well as Common Dolphin up close.

“I have been out on the water for 30 years and have seen all sorts of sea life including Thresher, Mako and Porbeagle sharks but never a Risso’s dolphin.

“I have heard the Risso’s dolphin are swimming up from France to feed on octopus. They are normally in deep water and don’t normally come close to shore.”

The Risso's Dolphin jumping out of the water ( )

Dave took the family out on his boat Che Sara Sara.

The 75-year-old said: “I have never seen a Risso’s dolphin in Newquay Bay in my lifetime. Maurice’s wife said she believes in these sorts of things. It is like fate that the Risso’s came along out of the blue. I have never seen this kind of thing to happen before.”