Rescuers unable to save injured dolphin on Paignton beach

Rescuers battled in vain to save a juvenile dolphin stranded on Paignton beach.

The Volunteer Marine Mammal Medics for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue responded to a call out after the dolphin was discovered.

They said: "This was a stressful situation for all involved, on what was a very busy beach. With amazing support from the Torbay Coastguard team, we were able to assess and then move the dolphin to a quieter location.

Despite our best efforts, the outcome wasn't a happy one."

Above: Image: Maddie Stainer

They added: "Marine mammals often strand for reasons we cannot see or easily explain. We hope to find out the cause, but either way, everything we did was in the best interests of the dolphin. Thank you to everyone for their concerns and comments. Please never attempt to put stranded marine wildlife back into the sea. "

Eye-witness Maddie Stainer said she and her partner had been walking along the seafront where coastguards and marine medics were already on site to help the dolphin.

Above: Dolphin and the battle to save it. Image: Maddie Stainer

She said: "They had applied a wet jacket and the coastguard were going back and forth to collect sea water to keep the dolphin wet."

Maddie added: "The coastguard’s did a great job, the marine medics on site advised the dolphin looked to have injuries to his fin. Everyone did such a great job in looking after the dolphin."