Surfers rescue porpoise trapped on sandbank and gave it a lift to the sea in their car
TWO surfers riding the famous Severn Bore have saved a young porpoise which had got stranded on a sandbank miles from the sea.
Dave Butterton and Ben Rogers saved a young porpoise which had got stranded on a sandbank
Dave Butterton and Ben Rogers from Ilfracombe, Devon, were paddling into position to await the wave when Ben heard a 'strange noise' coming from the sandbank.
They found the stricken marine mammal, wrapped it up in and damp sheets and towels - and then drove it down the M5 in their Vauxhall Zafira to release it back into the sea at Ilfracombe.
More dead porpoises are found in Gloucester than live ones
Writing on Facebook, Dave said "We surfed the bore at one spot, paddling down to the next spot myself and Ben heard a strange noise coming from the sandbank. On investigation it was a stranded porpoise.
The two surfers released the porpoise back into the sea at Ilfracombe
'More dead porpoises are found in Gloucester than live ones', David said
"We thought about just releasing her back into the channel but it is pretty inevitable that she would get stranded on the next low tide and the next until exhausted she would have passed away. More dead porpoises are found in Gloucester than live ones."
Dave said they expected a 'Free Willy style leap' as farewell
They collected the stricken mammal from the banks and turned their boards into stretchers to carry her back to their car, where they wrapped her in sheets and damp towels.
Off they sped down the motorway, stopping to water their poorly passenger.
Then finally, at 10pm, they released the little porpoise back into the sea at Hele beach.
Dave said: "I was half expecting a Free Willy style leap into the moonlight as a farewell but never mind."