Kids in bid to save Dolphin

CHILDREN banded together to help a dolphin when it became stranded at West Beach, Newhaven.

People were amazed when the Atlantic white-sided dolphin appeared in the sea on Saturday afternoon. But their wonder turned to concern as it headed towards the beach and became marooned.

Newhaven conservationist Graham Amy, from Court Farm Road, was among the first on the scene to help the stricken creature.

He applauded youngsters who used their buckets and spades to help. He said: 'All praise to the children. They formed a human chain to bring water with their buckets and used their spades to dig a trench to get it back into the water.

'It was a great community effort to keep this animal alive. The fire brigade and Lifeboat crew were also there doing everything they could to assist.'

Newhaven firefighters set up a pump in the sea and used a hose to stop the mammal drying out. Animal experts, including East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service, British Divers Marine Life Rescue and a vet, were soon on the scene to establish the dolphin's condition.

Sadly, the creature was found to be ill and a decision was made to put it down. It is believed its illness affected its sonar causing it to stray hundreds of miles from its Northern Atlantic home.

Mr Amy said: 'It was a magnificent animal. It was very sad it could not be saved, especially because of the effort the kids made. It was probably the only dolphin they were likely to see in the wild.'

Trevor Weeks, from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service, co-ordinated the operation.

He said: 'When we arrived there was already a chain of people bringing buckets of water from the sea, they were very organised and I was very pleased they were doing such an important job.'

A crowd of up to 100 looked on as the rescue operation began. Trevor said: 'I took over the organisation of the rescue while our senior carer Lindy King monitored the animal's condition. The main priority was to keep it moist and stabilised. Its breathing rate was very erratic.'

There were no obvious signs of injury to the animal, however its fat level, which would keep it insulated in freezing Atlantic waters, was extremely low.

It was very unusual for a dolphin to become stranded in Sussex, said Trevor. 'It happens on the North Kent coast, the North East of England and Scotland but to happen on the Sussex coast is extremely rare.'

The animal's carcass was taken to London Zoo where an autopsy was due to be carried out this week.