A beached dolphin was rescued and returned to the water in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, the National Sea Rescue Institute said.

“At 07:20…NSRI Station 6 Port Elizabeth were alerted to a dolphin stranded on Cape Recife beach,” said NSRI spokesperson Andrew Ingram in a statement.

“Sea Rescue Volunteers, Bay World staff and members of the Nelson Mandela Bay Marine Animal Stranding Network responded straight to the scene where they found a Common Dolphin well up on the beach.”

The female dolphin was placed on a special stretcher and taken to the sea rescue station.  A boat was then prepared to take her back into the water.

“We transported her approximately 4 nautical miles out to sea where she was released.”

“We are cautiously optimistic that she will survive the ordeal,” said Port Elizabeth NSRI Station Commander Ian Gray.