Stranded dolphin dies despite rescue attempt

Naj ModakNorth East and Cumbria
News imageJulie Hardy Three people in red overalls and blue hats, one with a red life jacket and two with yellow life jackets. There is another person with dark blue overalls and an orange life jacket. They are surrounding a dolphin laid on a blue matt on rocks on the coast. There is a large concrete block wall behind them.Julie Hardy
Rescuers recovered the remains of the stranded dolphin at Hartlepool Headland

A dolphin has died after becoming stranded between coastal rocks.

Staff from Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team responded to reports of the stranding at Hartlepool Headland shortly after 15:00 BST on Monday.

They said the mammal was confirmed to have died at the scene.

A British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) spokesperson said its volunteer Marine Mammal Medics "recovered a deceased dolphin" and it will "undergo examination to help determine the cause of death and contribute to ongoing research".

Julie Hardy, whose son was part of the volunteer rescue team, was also at the scene and said the dolphin was alive at first but died while rescue crews had to wait for the tide to go out "because of the rocks".

She said the coastguard had responded quickly and she "was so proud" of the work her son did as a volunteer.

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