Boat assisted - Struisbaai. Dolphin rescued - Arniston.

StuisbaaiSTRUISBAAI:Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said:At 07h50, Monday, 30th April, NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated following a call from the fishing chuckie (open fishing boat) Bennie reporting motor mechanical problems 1 nautical mile off-shore of Struis Baai harbour.The 4.7 meter sea rescue craft I&J Rescuer IV was launched into a Spring Tide low tide as a precaution to ensure that Bennie and her crew don't drift into the surf line and on arrival on the scene our duty coxswain confirmed that in the good sea conditions it was suitable for our 4.7 meter sea rescue craft to take Bennie under tow and the casualty craft was towed safely into Struisbaai harbour without incident and no further assistance was required.Then at 18h30, our duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a dolphin stranded on rocks in Arniston and most likely the entrapment caused by the higher than normal Spring Tide high tide that had now receded to the lower than normal Spring Tide low tide.NSRI Agulhas rescue crew and Overberg Fire and Rescue Services responded.On arrival on the scene we found the dolphin, an adult female, stranded on the rocks at low tide below houses on the shoreline.A high-angle rope system was set up and using wet towels the dolphin was assisted and secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and hoisted, using a winch, safely over the rocks and up a steep pathway and carried to the Fire and Rescue vehicle and transported to the opposite side of the Bay near to The Beacon on Otter Beach where NSRI rescue swimmers swam the dolphin into deep water.The dolphin, despite slight injuries sustained from sharp rocks when she was stranded, once in deep water, she swam around in circles a few times before disappearing into the deep and she appeared to be swimming strongly and we are confident that she will be okay following this ordeal.