The St John Inshore Rescue volunteers went to the aid of a stranded dolphin washed ashore by severe weather on Guernsey’s North coast today. The baby dolphin which was about a metre long is thought to have breached following severe gales that had persisted in the English Channel overnight. The Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were having difficulty in returning the mammal to deeper water and called on the assistance of the St John Inshore Rescue Team.

The dolphin covered in wet towels prior to its journey overland to safe waters

The dolphin covered in wet towels prior to its journey overland to safe waters

Due to the prevailing strong winds and very rough sea it was decided to move the dolphin overland to calmer waters in a nearby yacht marina. Wrapped in wet towels and accompanied by a local vet the dolphin was placed in a basket stretcher usually used for human casualties and then transferred in an Inshore Rescue Boat towed on a trailer to the Beaucette Marina. It was released gently into the calmer waters and swam off to await the next high tide where it is hoped it will make its way back into the waters around Guernsey.

Inshore Rescue volunteers placing dolphin in Boat for its overland journey to calmer waters

Inshore Rescue volunteers placing dolphin in Boat for its overland journey to calmer waters

Posted: February 5, 2014