The volunteer crew of Fenit RNLI were involved in one of their more unusual launches last evening when a dolphin was spotted too close to the shore.
Just after 8 o'clock last night a dolphin was noticed by a large number of locals and visitors in what was a fairly blustery evening on Fenit Pier.
Members of the crew were also on the pier at the time and had made preparations to launch if required.
The RNLI made contact with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group to seek its guidance on the situation. The advice given was to encourage the dolphin into deeper water if possible.
The Fenit Inshore Lifeboat was launched and headed towards the dolphin. A number of local sea vessels were in the sea at the same time and a joint effort was made to gently steer the dolphin in the direction of the deeper sea.
Jackie Murphy, Fenit Lifeboat Press Officer, says it was an opportunity to remember that the lifeboat crews are volunteers, and this was one of the rare occasions where the Fenit RNLI experienced helping an animal.
