Video: Swimmer gets dolphin surprise in Charleston

Open water swimmers often get an escort, but it’s a rare treat when aquatic creatures lead the way.

Swimmers who competed in a open water race around Charleston on Saturday were joined by a pair of dolphins who accompanied them along portions of the Ashley River.

In a video taken by race organizers in a more traditional escort boat, John Sanders of Greenville, S.C., swam up the river as what appears to be a dolphin and her calf leisurely break the surface nearby.

Cheryl Reinke of Rock Hill and Chris Layton of Chicago were the overall winners. Reinke finished the course in 4 hours, 41 minutes and 16 seconds; Layton’s time was 4 hours, 45 minutes and 17 seconds.

The swim begins at Remleys Point in Mount Pleasant, proceeds across the Cooper River to the Charleston side, parallel to the peninsular city, and heads north up the Ashley River to the finish point at Interstate 526.

Race director Kathleen Wilson founded the race in 2011 to raise awareness about marathon swimming and aquatics.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 1:09 PM with the headline "Video: Swimmer gets dolphin surprise in Charleston."