Dolphin rescued by Cork fire crew dies after becoming trapped again

Crew left disappointed after discovery of animal’s body stuck in branches in River Lee

Members of the Cork city fire brigade help free a dolphin trapped by branches on the banks of the River Lee.

Fire crews in Cork city who last night rescued a trapped dolphin were disappointed this morning to find the dolphin had subsequently died.

The animal died after it again became caught in branches in Wandesford Quay on the River Lee.

Acting second officer with Cork city fire service, Victor Shine, told RTÉ's News at One the crew had been pleased last night when they freed the dolphin and pointed him in the direction of open water.

“At some stage in the night the dolphin made its way back to the same location where it was initially trapped, and it got trapped again. Its directional ability must have been affected in some way.

READ MORE

“This morning we recovered the dolphin and handed it over to the department of zoology in UCC.

“We’ve had a number of scenarios where different forms of sea life come up the river. There are a lot of fish this time of year, some times the creatures or mammals follow the fish and sadly on this occasion the dolphin came too far up river and became disorientated.

“People were very disappointed. The crew last night were ecstatic, unfortunately we would like to have seen it rescued and brought back to open water.”