Stranded Cornwall dolphin returned to the sea

Image source, David Smethurst

Image caption, Volunteers eased the dolphin back into the water

Rescuers have returned a stranded dolphin to the sea in Cornwall.

The bottlenose dolphin was found at Par beach near St Austell at about 10:00 GMT.

It was examined by a vet before six volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) carried it on a stretcher to the sea.

Dave Jarvis, from BDMLR, said it was rare for bottlenose dolphins to be stranded in Cornwall and it may have become detached from a pod in the area.

"We had to spend 20 minutes rocking it from side to side because some times they lose their equilibrium," he said.

"Once the muscles were working and she got upright we freed her.

"She swam up and down for 20 minutes and then we lost sight of her."