This is the moment a stranded dolphin was rescued by TV broadcaster and marine biologist Monty Halls - who lives nearby.
Monty, 55, sprung into action alongside a team of marine rescue divers to save the stricken animal in a creek below his home.
The former Royal Marine known for his BBC 'Great Escape' series waded into the mud in Old Mill Creek near Dartmouth, Devon.
Monty and a team of volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue then
successfully freed the dolphin.
It had become trapped in thick mud, with its pod swimming close by to keep an eye on it.
Before the dolphin was rescued it had been trapped on its back with its blowhole covered by mud - putting it in a battle for survival.
After freeing the animal, an RNLI lifeboat team were then able to take the dolphin to deeper water - even refloating it again after it became stuck once released.
Dart RNLI’s D class lifeboat had been launched following reports of people in the water at Old Mill Creek - though none of the volunteers were ever in danger.
Monty said: "By the time we got there one dolphin was clearly in distress, stranded and lying on its side with its blowhole in the mud.
"That was the moment we decided to head into the creek to right it, then re-float it using the British Divers Marine Life Rescue stretcher.
"Having lived above the creek for ten years we knew the exact route, and there was genuinely never any danger for the team on the mud.”
"The volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue were amazing - Gemma, Sarah, Ali, and Hannah - and Dave from Distin Boatyard also played a blinder.
"But for their actions and their expertise many more of the dolphins would have stranded.
"We were also really grateful that the Coastguard stood by in case we got into difficulties, and of course the lifeboat played a significant part in helping the dolphin out into the main river.
"I’ll be heading down there tonight with a bottle of whisky to say thanks! All in all, an amazing community effort.”
An RNLI spokesperson said: “Having established that the swimmers were all out of the water and safe, the lifeboat crew discussed how to proceed with a member of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team who was with the Coastguard onshore.
“Usually, the rescuers wrap the dolphin in a tarpaulin and then return it to the water.
"Members of the Dart lifeboat crew had previously worked with the rescue team when they helped to release a humpback whale that had become trapped on two occasions off Blackpool Sands in 2017.
“The volunteer helm decided to use the ambulance pouch on the lifeboat to keep the dolphin alongside the boat but still in the water.
"The adult dolphin was slowly taken into deeper water and released in the middle of the river.
"It looked strong when released and swam off powerfully up the river.”
Posting on Facebook after the incident, Monty commended his young daughter Isla for her help and encouraged people to donate to British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
He said: “Isla came down with me, then stood for two hours training my searchlight onto the rescue team.
"She was told to go home and warm up but refused point blank. Good on you legend.”
