Police Clarify Viral Rumour: Dolphins Did Not Kidnap Man to Build “Underwater City”

Authorities in the U.S. state of Florida have been forced to respond to an unusual rumour circulating online claiming that dolphins had kidnapped a man and forced him to work on a secret underwater city.

The bizarre claim spread widely on social media earlier this week, prompting the Lee County Sheriff's Office to issue a public statement clarifying that the story was entirely false.

According to the sheriff’s office, the rumour alleged that a man had been taken out to sea by a group of dolphins and compelled to assist them in constructing a hidden underwater settlement. The claim quickly gained attention online, with some posts presenting the story as a supposed “leak” or unexplained maritime incident.

Police confirmed there had been no reports of kidnappings involving dolphins, nor any evidence of underwater construction projects being run by marine animals.

“This did not happen,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement addressing the rumour. Officials explained that the claim appeared to originate from a misleading social media post that was repeatedly shared and exaggerated as it spread.

Despite the clear denial, the situation quickly attracted media attention due to the unusual nature of the clarification itself. Law-enforcement agencies rarely find themselves issuing statements about the alleged engineering activities of sea mammals. Local officials said the incident highlights how quickly misinformation can spread online, even when the claims are highly improbable.

While dolphins are widely known for their intelligence and social behaviour, authorities emphasised that they are not capable of kidnapping humans or organising underwater construction projects.

The sheriff’s office encouraged residents to check the credibility of online information before sharing it, particularly when claims involve extraordinary scenarios.

For now, officials say the case is closed — and that there is no evidence of dolphins building a hidden city beneath the waves.