Coast Guard rescues dolphin that jumped into boat off Florida coast

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla., July 22 (UPI) -- Members of the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a dolphin that jumped out of the water and landed in a dinghy attached to a sailboat off the Florida coast.

The Coast Guard said watchstanders from the Fort Myers Beach station consulted with a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine biologist after receiving a call about 1 a.m. Thursday about the 7-foot dolphin jumping into the dinghy.

The biologist recommended the dolphin be returned to the water as soon as possible, so a 29-foot Response Boat-Small II crew was dispatched to the location of the man's sailboat.

Video from the scene shows the members of the Coast Guard returning the large ocean mammal to the water, where it was able to swim away.

"I am proud of the close coordination between our crews and the professionals at FWC," said Chief Warrant Officer Robert Gruschow, commanding officer of Station Fort Myers Beach. "Through this coordination we were able to save another life."