After a Successful Rescue, Lucky the Dolphin Swims Free in South Carolina's May River

A female bottlenose dolphin stranded in a shallow lagoon in Bluffton, South Carolina, has been safely rescued and returned to her natural habitat, thanks to a coordinated effort involving marine biologists, local firefighters, and a few helpful neighbors.

The dolphin, identified as Lucky, became trapped on Saturday, July 12, after heavy rainfall and high tides pushed her through a culvert and into a residential lagoon in the Hampton Lake community. As the tide receded, she was left stranded in only a few feet of water in a tidal drainage area surrounded by debris and fallen trees.

The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network, authorized to respond to marine mammal incidents under federal guidelines,

led the rescue with help from longtime volunteer Amber Kuehn, the Bluffton Township Fire District, and several local residents. The incident marked the first known dolphin rescue of its kind for both the marine network and the fire department.

Rescuers carry Lucky, a stranded dolphin, through shallow water during a relocation effort. Photo credit: Marine Sensory and Neurobiology Lab at USCB's Facebook page

When the responders arrived, Lucky initially swam deeper into the lagoon. The team guided her onto a marine rescue tarp equipped with stabilizing poles. They then carefully transported her about 75 yards over rough terrain to a utility trailer, using a partially inflated inner tube for cushioning during the journey to the release site.

After a brief health check, Lucky, measuring approximately 7 feet 10 inches and weighing an estimated 400 to 500 pounds, was driven to a private dock and released back into the May River just before 6 p.m.

On the morning of July 25, researchers from the Marine Sensory and Neurobiology Lab at the University of South Carolina Beaufort observed Lucky during a routine survey near the headwaters of the May River. In a post shared on the lab’s official Facebook page, they reported that she was swimming normally and appeared to be in good health. Minor scarring was visible on her dorsal fin and is believed to have been present before her rescue.

Since 2012, researchers have been monitoring Lucky, frequently seen in the May River. Their extensive study has turned her into one of the most recognized and well-documented dolphins in the region!