Falmouth’s inshore lifeboat crew was involved in a large and unusual rescue operation on 9 June when a pod of dolphins became stranded in Porth Creek on the Percuil River. When the lifeboat arrived on scene, more than 20 had already died, while others were struggling in the shallows and on the water’s edge. 

Helmsman Dave Nicoll says: ‘I can’t say I’ve ever seen such a terrible scene. It was horrific, but my two volunteer colleagues were brilliant. They got into the water to assist the dolphins that were still alive. We managed to encourage some of them away from the shallows and out into deeper water. RNLI crew training is extremely thorough, but this took all our skills. We are only glad we were able to help.’

Marine experts, including British Divers Marine Life Rescue and a vet, soon arrived. Three stranded creatures were still alive, two of which were stretchered into deeper water and swam to safety, but the third was put down.

Dave continues: ‘All the time we were concerned for about 60 dolphins that had gathered near the creek, as we didn’t want them getting stranded too. As the procession of boats made their way downriver, the pod followed us out; it was extraordinary to see.’ It’s still not clear why the dolphins swam upriver, although a number of theories have been put forward in the local media. 

While the RNLI exists to save human life, no one likes to see an animal suffer. Lifeboats are occasionally called to help pets and livestock in danger, especially if this prevents their owners putting themselves at risk.