Moment enraged dolphin rams swimmer and pushes another under in front of tourists at Japanese beach 

Horrifying video shows rampaging dolphins ramming and trying to drag swimmers under the water just a few yards off a popular beach in Japan, as screaming members of the public watched on helplessly.

A spate of dolphin attacks off Suishohama beach in the town of Mihama, Fukui prefecture, on Sunday left at least four beachgoers injured.

A man in his 60s had his ribs broken as he was rammed by one of the mammals while another man, in his 40s, sustained bites on his arm.

The aggressive animals continued to go after swimmers and at least two more were injured in vicious attacks later in the day.

Footage shows the sea emptied of people as a dolphin lurked near the shoreline, with dozens watching in terror from the safety of the beach.

The video shows bystanders yelling at those still in the water and screaming as they can see the dolphin catching up with the man

Dozens of tourists watched a dolphin attack from the safety of the beach, with many filming it

Fukui, on the north coast of Japan, has recorded a total of six dolphin attacks so far this year, according to local police. 

A string of attacks were also reported in the seaside area last year, which is popular with local families and tourists.

Officials have put up signs warning the public against approaching or touching the dolphins.

They have warned swimmers: ‘If you see them, don’t go into the water’. 

But many appeared to ignore this advice over the weekend, with social media awash with videos of bathers, kayakers and paddleboarders braving the shallows.

Many of those who chose to go in the water to cool off were quickly targeted by the dolphins, and forced to flee as the mammals swam towards them.

A terrifying encounter between one bather and a dolphin shows a man swimming for his life as the mammal appears to chase him. 

Footage shows the sea emptied of people as a dolphin lurked near the shoreline

One bather, who was floating in a pink rubber ring, was seemingly oblivious of the dolphin’s presence in the moments before it rammed into him

The sea emptied as terrified beachgoers tried to steer clear of an aggressive dolphin

Horrified bystanders watch on as swimmers desperately try to get away from the dolphin

The animal appears to wrestle with one man, thrashing about in the water as terrified paddleboarders and kayakers retreat in horror

One bather rapidly swam away as the dolphin appeared to by pursuing him

Helpless onlookers on the beach and a nearby paddledboard and boats watched as a man was almost completely dragged under the water

In one clip, a man appeared to be clapping at the dolphin, possibly taunting it or in an effort to get it to swim away

The video shows bystanders yelling at those still in the water and screaming as they can see the dolphin catching up with the man and pulling him under.

The animal appears to wrestle with the man, thrashing about in the water as terrified paddleboarders and kayakers retreat in horror. 

Another clip shows a man in a pink rubber ring, who is seemingly oblivious as the dolphin circles him before the colliding with him and almost dunking him under the water.

Wild bottlenose dolphins can find swimming alongside humans ‘incredibly stressful’, scientists have suggested, citing evidence it disrupts their behavioural routines. 

There are around 600,000 bottlenose dolphins around the world and they are one of the most widely-distributed dolphin species.