RESCUERS FREE DOLPHIN FROM NETTING IN RIVER ORWELL

Firefighters and marine mammal medics freed a dolphin tangled in netting in the River Orwell in Ipswich. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to Sir Bobby Robson Bridge at 12.49pm on Wednesday 14 October after members of the public spotted the animal. British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) identified it as a common dolphin. Crews from Ipswich Princes Street launched a rigid inflatable boat to reach it. The rescuers cut away the netting and released the dolphin back into the river.

BDMLR said a large section of green netting had wrapped tightly around the dolphin’s beak and pectoral fins. The charity said the animal could still breathe and swim strongly, moving along the river while avoiding vessels. Rescuers waited for the dolphin to become accustomed to their presence before securing it alongside the boat with a boat hook. Their assessment found minor wounds from the entanglement, according to BDMLR. Andy Hollis, who filmed the dolphin, called the sight “quite a spectacle” and said he worried about it getting injured.

BDMLR volunteers are monitoring the dolphin after its release. The charity said it had “every chance” of making its way out of the river towards the sea and was considering further intervention if needed. It asked people who see the animal to keep their distance and avoid interacting with it during its recovery. BDMLR said: “This is a critical period of recovery for the animal and it needs time and space to do so without any additional stress or distraction.” People can report sightings or concerns to its hotline on 01825 76554.