Sick seal struggles off Seacliff Beach in Adelaide’s south

A struggling seal has been spotted floundering in the shallows of an Adelaide beach on Tuesday, with members of the public trying to save it. See the video.

A large seal is floundering in the shallows of one of Adelaide’s metropolitan beaches.

Members of the public spotted the seal struggling a couple metres from the shore at Seacliff Beach just after 11.30am.

Distressing vision shows the seal on its side with a fin and its tail in the air, only poking its head out of the water for air every couple of minutes.

A beachgoer said wildlife rescuers were called in a desperate bid to help the seal before it was too late.

Members of the public spotted the seal struggling off the coast of Seacliff this morning. Picture: Supplied

“Every now and then, it’s kind of popping its head up to breathe, but it’s looking pretty sick,” she said.

“It’s just kind of floating along and the waves are starting to wash it closer to the sand.”

Another member of the public wadded out to the seal to see if they could drag it to shore, but decided to wait for experts to arrive.

She feared the seal may have to be euthanised after falling victim to the state’s current algae bloom crisis.

“It’s kind of depressing to see all this sea life washing up on the beach,” she said.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in South Australia.”

The distressing scene comes only two weeks after a fur seal was euthanised, having been found on a footpath in North Brighton.

It’s not yet known if the algae bloom was to blame for both seals washing up on the shore.