Dolphin 'rarely seen in UK' died during rescue

The Atlantic white-sided dolphin had become stranded on mudflats and died before it could be returned to the sea, rescuers say

A charity says it hopes a post-mortem into a stranded dolphin that died during a rescue attempt will shed light on why it ended up "outside his normal habitat".

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said the 2.6m (8.5ft) long male Atlantic white-sided dolphin was stuck on his side in mudflats near Easington, East Yorkshire, on Wednesday, about 50m (164ft) from the shoreline.

Following veterinary assessment, the charity said the animal was cleared to re-enter the water, but suffered a seizure and died while being transported back to sea.

A spokesperson for the BDMLR said: "As this is a species rarely seen in UK waters, the necropsy will help us understand more about his life."

The dolphin was stuck in the mud about 50m from the shoreline and lying on his side when rescuers arrived

The spokesperson added: "The dolphin was lying on his left side, and the more he struggled in the mud, the deeper he sank.

"By the time our medics and the rescue teams reached him, his blowhole – his only airway – was barely above the surface."

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service helped dig the dolphin out and rolled him on to a rescue sling.

They provided water and additional matting to help keep the dolphin upright while he was stabilised.

The charity said there were no injuries severe enough to require euthanasia.

Rescuers said the dolphin suffered a seizure before it could be returned to the water

"We're extremely grateful to the fire and rescue crews for their assistance," they added.

"Without their specialist support, the dolphin would have remained trapped in the deep mud and would almost certainly have suffocated or drowned as the tide came back in.

"The dolphin has now gone to the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme for a full post-mortem examination."

The charity said that if a dolphin or whale was seen stranded, it was "vital" people do not try to push it back into the sea, with the animal needing to be stabilised and assessed to decide the best course of action.

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