Fraserburgh RNLI called out in Dolphin Rescue
Fraserburgh Lifeboat was called out at 2.19pm on Monday 5 June to assist in the rescue of two dolphins which had become stranded on Fraserburgh Beach.
The two dolphins were discovered stranded on Fraserburgh Beach at low tide over eight hours earlier at 6am.
Experts from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the Coastguard soon appeared and it was decided to wait until high tide at noon to refloat the dolphins.
Crowds of onlookers gathered throughout the morning and the ongoing situation was followed on social media and national press web pages.
The attempt to refloat the dolphins was unsuccessful as were all other subsequent attempts to refloat them before the lifeboat was called in.
The dolphins would be assisted back to the sea, but would only swim for a little while and then head back to the shore where they tried to evade their would be rescuers and beach themselves.Nothing that the rescuers could do could stop the dolphins trying to beach themselves.
Members of the public also tried to help by going into the water and trying to push the dolphins back into the sea.
When the RNLI lifeboat was called out they were able to follow advice from the marine life experts and take the dolphins out into deeper water before releasing them.
This proved successful.
A vigil was kept on the beach and nearby coastline for hours afterwards until at 8pm it could be said with some authority that were no reports of dolphins being restranded and the operation had been a success.
On the day, a BDMLR spokesperson said: 'As far as we are aware everything that should be swimming is swimming, and everything that should be on dry land is on dry land.
'Your boys did an absolutely amazing job and well done to them all' she continued in a tribute to the Fraserburgh Fraserburgh RNLI lifeboat volunteers.
In an emergency at the coast, you should always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
If members of the public find a stranded dolphin, porpoise or whale, they should call the BDMLR’s Rescue Hotline on 01825 765546
Notes to editors
· Fraserburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1858. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fraserburgh-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Billy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Stuart Fenty, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.