Orkney residents help save three stranded Risso dolphins washed ashore

Local residents helped save three stranded dolphins after they washed ashore in Orkney.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) responded to reports of three Risso’s dolphins caught in a bay in Orkney over the weekend.

The charity said no medics were immediately available to help the mammals but local residents did an “incredible job” of giving first aid.

After medics arrived from the mainland, they were able to refloat the dolphins back into the sea.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) responded to reports of three Risso's dolphins caught in a bay in Orkney over the weekend. — British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) responded to reports of three Risso’s dolphins caught in a bay in Orkney over the weekend. Facebook

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “With thanks to the residents and our medics all three dolphins were refloated back into the sea with no further signs of them the following morning.”

BDMLR also thanked the RNLI in Kirkwall, Westray Coastguard team and medics who responded to the alert.

The standing comes just weeks after the mass stranding of around 77 pilot whales in Orkney.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) received a report of a mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales at Tresness beach on the Isle of Sanday, Orkney, just before 11am on Thursday, July 11.

Of the 77 whales which were on the beach, only 12 survived with medics mobilised from around the islands and further afield in Scotland in a bid to save them.

The surviving whales, however, were euthanised due to the length of time they had spent on the beach.