Dolphin rescued at PE

At 17h55, Sunday, 11th January, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew dispatched the sea rescue vehicle and launched the sea rescue craft EIKOS RESCUER IV following reports of a Dolphin beached at Main Beach, Blue Water Bay, Port Elizabeth.Local Blue Water Bay volunteer Sector Police were already on the scene and Bayworld members were activated with their specialised marine animal carrying stretchers to assist.On arrival on-scene the animal, believed to be female, approximately 1.7 meters in length, was found to be in good health but hard aground on the beach. She was loaded onto a stretcher, carried to the sea rescue craft which had beached nearby, and has been transported to deeper waters 15 nautical miles off-shore and released. She appears to have swam off confidently and strongly.Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said that the dolphin was barely out of the boat before it wriggled around and leapt into the water and swam off confidently.NSRI are cautiously optimistic with hope that the dolphin has been saved and the coastline will be monitored over the next few days to see if the dolphin re-beaches. (Picture by Daniel Heimann) (Picture by Daniel Heimann) (Picture by Daniel Heimann)Photographs for Media use are on the Sea Rescue Flickr Page.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONESMS 32287 with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew.