Dolphin rescued after getting stranded in river

BDMLR were dispatched after reports of two stranded dolphins

A dolphin has been rescued from a river using an airbed on a paddleboard after becoming stranded 6km (3.7 miles) from the open sea.

The male common dolphin was spotted at Penpoll near the River Fowey, in Cornwall, on Tuesday after getting stranded in a muddy area.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said it received reports of two stranded dolphins but one had already died.

Marine mammal medics went to the scene and the living dolphin was transported downstream to be released.

The dolphin was carefully loaded on to a boat, supported on a paddleboard and airbed for stability and comfort, and was transported downstream past Fowey

BDMLR said it seemed the pair of dolphins had become lost and disoriented in the intertidal muddy river system and struggled to find their way out.

Dan Jarvis, welfare and conservation director at BDMLR, said when the dolphin was found it was "fairly motionless" which initially caused concern as "it may have been there at some time before the tide came back up to it".

He added the dolphin was given a health assessment and the team was supported by local residents who allowed rescue staff to borrow kayaks and a paddleboard.

"Once we'd recovered it to the shore we were able to continue the first aid and carry out the health assessment on the animal", he said.

BDMLR said the dolphin's breathing rate was within normal parameters and there were no signs of injury or infection.

"It was quite an interesting experience trying to release the animal... the first boat actually we couldn't get the engine working on, so we ended up getting towed down by a second boat," Mr Jarvis said.

"So we had this strange procession go past Fowey Regatta with three of ourselves, medics, on board a boat with a dolphin on top of a paddleboard and an airbed, being towed by another boat, out to the mouth of the river Fowey to open water so we could release it."

BDMLR said once in calm waters offshore, the dolphin was released and swam away immediately, just before a pod of Risso's dolphins passed through the area.

A satellite tag was attached to the dolphin's dorsal fin to allow BDMLR to monitor it post-release.

"The really good news is that the dolphin over the past three days since it's been released appears to be behaving normally," Mr Jarvis said.