Dolphin Tragedy: Mother and Calf Euthanized After Rescue

A desperate, seven-hour rescue operation for a mother dolphin and her calf stranded in thick mud in the River Plym concluded with heartbreak. The animals became trapped at the bottom of a steep riverbank as the tide receded, prompting a major emergency response. HM Coastguard, firefighters, and volunteer divers were involved in the difficult effort.

A specialist fire team was deployed to reach the inaccessible location, allowing a vet to conduct an urgent examination. Rescuers faced challenges, using large floats to navigate the mud. Despite their best efforts to lift the dolphins to safety, the vet ultimately determined that euthanasia was the only humane course of action.

Both dolphins exhibited signs of extreme stress. Concerns were high that neither animal would survive the necessary road transport to return them to the open sea. This incident echoes a previous tragedy in August 2023 where a young dolphin's rescue attempt also failed in St Ives Harbour, Cornwall.