Two dolphins were rescued last week from the same Fal Estuary creek where a large mass stranding of the same species occurred 10 years previously.

That event in June 2008 was the largest on record in the UK for this species and involved over 70 animals.

Fortunately, this latest incident was a much smaller occurrence, but was extremely hazardous for the medics involved due to the soft mud and slippery rocks and seaweed underfoot.

A call was initially received at 11am by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) to advise that the dolphins had been seen and required monitoring.

A team led by BDMLR veterinary support coordinator Natalie Waddington attended the scene and soon found both animals free swimming and apparently feeding near the entrance to Porth Creek, near the Percuil River.

They were assisted by St Mawes Harbourmaster, a local RIB operator (who had also been involved in the 2008 incident) and a kayaker, all of whom observed the dolphins from a distance.

At around 3pm the behaviour of both animals suddenly changed, and they moved in to the shallow water close to shore at Froe creek.

The smaller dolphin became virtually inactive in the water, with the other some 50 metres away.

The latter animal was initially helped back into knee-deep water, on the premise that it may just have made a navigational error, but to the dismay of the team it again stranded itself in the mud.

It was decided that it would be necessary to bring the animal to shore to carry out a proper examination and this was done with the assistance of the kayaker.

A similar exercise was then carried out to remove the second animal and an urgent request was sent out for assistance from other BDMLR Medics to attend.

Both dolphins were initially moved to a safer exit route for the rescuers and, having satisfied the veterinary criteria, the two animals were carried out into the water as darkness fell, and successfully released.

The pair were followed out to the main Percuil River by the RIB that had been assisting throughout and were last seen swimming towards the mouth of the Carrick Roads and have not been seen again in the days since the rescue last Wednesday (December 12).

Natalie said: “We were overjoyed to see that the two dolphins had managed to get back out at last after apparently becoming disoriented in the more enclosed river network of the Fal Estuary.

"I’d like to thank all of our team as well as the others who were supporting the rescue efforts for their determined efforts working in a remote location and in deep mud with very cold conditions for this great outcome.”