A female bottlenose dolphin became stranded in a shallow lagoon in Bluffton, South Carolina, after heavy rainfall and high tides. The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN) was alerted and, recognizing the need for additional help, enlisted firefighters trained in water rescues from the Bluffton Township Fire District. Together with local residents, they carefully guided the nearly 8-foot, 400–500-pound dolphin onto a rescue tarp and carried her about 75 yards through difficult terrain before transporting her to a private dock.

At the dock, responders conducted a health check, kept the dolphin hydrated, and then released her safely into the May River. The rescue was praised as a prime example of effective interagency collaboration and calm teamwork under pressure, ensuring the dolphin’s safe return to her natural habitat.