More than 80 volunteers rushed to Silver Sands Beach on the Whale Coast after a social media appeal was launched to save a stranded Risso’s dolphin. 

Pete Oxford, a British conservationist and wildlife photographer living in Betty’s Bay in the Western Cape, received a call on Sunday (August 16) informing him that a beached animal, believed to be a baby humpback whale, had been spotted on the beach. 

When Oxford arrived, he quickly realised it was not a humpback whale but an adult Risso’s dolphin, which he says is not commonly found near the coastline.  

Difficult to breathe 

“They sometimes associate with common dolphins, but usually they are further offshore around the continental shelf. I have only ever seen them in small groups, but they can apparently form very large pods.” 

As Oxford got closer to the dolphin, he could see it lying on its side, its blowhole half-submerged in the water of a little pool, making it difficult to breathe. 

Oxford knew there was little he could do alone until he spotted another resident, Ruan van Zyl, who had come to the beach to fish, and asked him for help. 

Appeal for help 

At the same time, Oxford was keeping in touch with his wife, Renee Bish, who had called the local authorities and other community members for help. 

Oxford, the co-founder of the Betty’s Bay Conservancy, recorded a video appealing to the community for assistance, which Bish posted on the organisation’s Facebook page. 

“Ruan and I were able to release the trapped fin and get it more upright, at an angle to try and not have too much compression on the organs and lungs,” says Oxford. 

He says it
was active, raising its tail and taking deep breaths. Its eyes occasionally opened.

The call for help quickly spread and, within 20 minutes, community members, including Ria Kotze, arrived. 

Carried into the water 

“The spring tide was receding, and by the time help arrived, the water was quite a long way out. The animal was extremely heavy, but the best option was to try to return it to the water. It was amazing how many people responded. We were looking for a handful of strong bodies but more than 80 people arrived,” adds Oxford. 

He explains that they dug a deep trench – which went below the waterline – from the dolphin to the sea. The idea was to use a tarp to help manoeuvre the dolphin into the water. 

“Volunteer firefighters arrived with some perfect, wide webbing straps and now, with enough people, it became possible to lift it clear of the sand,” Oxford adds.  

He says the dolphin was carried to the water and four or five community members stayed with it, keeping it upright.  

“It was obviously fairly weak and disoriented. Finally, it was kicking hard enough that it was let go and it swam, unassisted, to deeper water. A cheer went up from the crowd. We waited and watched. Everyone but a handful left the scene.” 

No news is good news 

But the rescue was not over. 

Oxford says things took a turn when the dolphin headed back towards shore, towards the rocks.  

“Ruan, the real hero of the day, went into the water after it and steered it through the waves. He stayed with it for half an hour in the water. He told us it began kicking hard and he had to let go.  

“The remaining people stayed for about another hour and watched it swimming out to deeper water, closer to shore, parallel to the beach and back out,” he adds. 

Oxford says he has been to the beach since and has not been able to spot the dolphin. 

“I guess no news is good news. I would like to thank everyone who came out and assisted. Left alone, it certainly would have died.”

Watch the video here: