Beached dolphin rescued in Matlacha Pass after getting stuck on sandbar

MATLACHA, Fla. (WINK) —  A stranded dolphin was rescued in Matlacha Pass after a retired firefighter rallied the community to help.

Matlacha Pine Island Fire Control responded to reports of a beached dolphin just after 1 p.m., according to Capt. Bobby Barr. The dolphin appeared to get stuck on a sandbar in the Matlacha Pass, just north of the Yucatan Waterfront Tiki Bar and Grill.

Bystanders and fire crews contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. FWC staff gave directions until they arrived on scene.

John Lynch, a retired Cape Coral firefighter, was out on his boat for his birthday when a fisherman waved him down to help save a beached dolphin. The dolphin was stuck in a very shallow part of Matlacha Pass, just north of Matlacha.

"I've done a lot of stuff in my life, but that was not on my bingo card," Lynch said.

Lynch and the fisherman couldn't move the dolphin on their own, so Lynch turned to Facebook and called for help. Commercial fishermen, charter captains and other locals responded to the call.

"We had all sorts of people show up. It's not surprising, it would have been more surprising if people hadn't shown up. You know, I mean this is a tight community," Lynch said.

For almost six hours, the group covered the dolphin and poured water on it to keep it alive. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists arrived, tagged the dolphin and set it free around 5:30 p.m.

"Really, really satisfying to see him swim off," Lynch said.

Matlacha Fire Rescue also responded to the scene. Lynch credited much of the rescue's success to Jonathan, the first fisherman who waved him down for help.