Dolphin rescued in Helford, Cornwall by Marine Mammal Medics

The dolphin was reported stranded at around 08:20 on Monday August 10 by Leon De Sola Pinto, who was working at his site on the outskirts of Mawgan near Helston when he heard a dophin’s whistle.

Picture: Dan Jarvis/BDMLR

Leon called the British Divers Marine Life Rescue hotline and supported the dolphin until a team of Marine Mammal Medics led by Cornwall area coordinator Dan Jarvis arrived.

The dolphin was stranded about 100m along from the nearest access point and getting to it required climbing over or ducking under a number of fallen trees along the edge of the riverbank.

Picture: Dan Jarvis/BDMLR

As more medics arrived they took over care of the dolphin and began first aid and initial assessment as more equipment was passed along the natural obstacle course to the stranding site.

Dan Jarvis said: "Obviously its getting lost in the tidal creek was the main reason it had stranded in the first place in this case, and with high tide having just peaked releasing it back into the creek would of course leave a high risk of re-stranding and not an option.

"Getting it back to the cars to attempt a journey by road to the coast was also very difficult due to the number of fallen trees, and wading further out to get around them was also very risky due to the deep sinking mud. Boat was really the only and best option if one could be found. It was now a race against time and tide.

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Picture: Dan Jarvis/BDMLR

"Luckily a nearby family out for a walk had offered use of their boat early on in the incident, so they were contacted and the boat launched quickly before the outgoing tide prevented it from being able to get out. The dolphin was carefully loaded on board, sat on a couple of wooden boards padded with a tarpaulin and stretcher, with medics knelt astride it to support it in place.

Picture: Dan Jarvis/BDMLR

"A sheet was kept over its back to help it stop drying out and protect it from the sun too, as four of the team headed seaward with their skipper. There was a fairly long journey ahead as Mawgan Creek is over three miles from the open sea, and the speed of course had to be kept reasonably slow to minimise stress to the animal while first aid and monitoring continued throughout.

"Finally, once the boat had reached point south of Rosemullion Head and facing the open sea of Fal Bay, the dolphin was carefully put overboard in the stretcher and held in place to acclimatise to its new surroundings that it had suddenly found itself in. Encouragingly, it quickly showed signs of wanting to swim, and was supported for just a few minutes to be sure before the stretcher was let go and the dolphin released.

Picture: Dan Jarvis/BDMLR

"The dolphin drifted slightly for the first few seconds before findings its fins again, and took off strongly to the south and back into the estuary at first. The team followed at a long distance to continue monitoring as the dolphin headed across to the southern side of the estuary, taking care to follow parallel and prevent any disturbance from the boat that might cause any stress.

"After some time of swimming back and forth and one close swim past of the boat, it was last seen heading back out to sea strongly.

"We would like to thank all medics involved with this incident, as well as the local builders who found and reported it, and of course to the Thomas family, whose boat was instrumental in this animal’s rescue."