A dolphin has died after washing up on Semaphore Beach
Beachgoers fought to save a stranded dolphin at an Adelaide beach before it was euthanised – the latest in a long list of animals washing up on SA coasts.
SA News
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Heartbreaking vision has captured a struggling dolphin on an Adelaide beach as members of the public rush to help.
Beachgoers raised the alarm just after 9am on Sunday morning after spotting the short-beaked common dolphin splashing in the shallows.
Rescuers tried to help the dolphin back into deeper water, but it kept returning to the shore.
The dolphin could be seen wrapped in a wet beach towel sitting in a small puddle, while a man regularly poured buckets of water on its back.
Marine life experts and a local vet were called in to help, but the decision was made to euthanise after struggling on the shore for a couple hours.
The Department of Environment and Water confirmed the dolphin’s carcass will undergo pathology testing to see if algae bloom toxins played a role in its death.
Fishing videographer AlexsFishin captured the distressing scene, calling for more awareness about the crippling algae bloom sweeping across the state.
“This is not what you want to see going for a beach stroll before work,” he said in an Instagram post.
“South Australia’s gulfs have been suffering from a disaster, this video has been posted to spread awareness.”
Kerryn Suthern, who tried to rescue the dolphin, said the confronting incident had “devastated” the local community.
“The dolphin was clearly very sick, distressed and any prolonging of its situation would have been traumatising for the animal,” she said.
“It was decided that the kindest thing to do would be to euthanise it.
“Every person there was devastated and cared.”
A dead seal pup was found on the shore at Seaford yesterday, with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to declare the bloom a “national disaster”.
“South Australia can’t manage this climate catastrophe on our own,” she said.
“We urgently need a full COVID-style rescue package to provide urgent support for the community, increased environmental monitoring, and action against fossil fuels.
“This is a national disaster devastating our communities and environment, and it requires a national response.”
The devastating incidents are the latest in a string of animals washing up on South Australian coast lines.
Last week, a dead penguin washed up on Semaphore Beach, with locals saying the beach was like a “graveyard”.
A 3.5 metre, 480kg great white shark died at Port Broughton on Friday, with a South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) report revealing the death was unexplained.
It comes as the state battles a devastating toxic algae bloom, which has crippled fishers, small businesses and towns across the coast.
The Department of Environment and Water has been contacted for comment.
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