KIND-HEARTED wildlife volunteers came to the aid of a distressed porpoise on Morfa Bychan beach after it became a casualty of Storm Desmond.

Vivien Finn, a volunteer for Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife, who works to protect the breeding ospreys in the Glaslyn Valley, came across the beached porpoise on Sunday and immediately called for help to get the mammal back into the sea as quickly as possible.

Vivien was joined by fellow Glaslyn wildlife volunteers, Kath Keir and Dave Moseley who arrived with a tarpaulin to lift the porpoise.

She said: “I think I was in the right place at the right time as it was only when I was coming off the beach I noticed some crows pecking at something and then I saw the tail of the porpoise flip up in the air and immediately ran over and stayed with it until my colleagues Kath and Dave arrived with the tarpaulin.

“On their way down to the beach they intercepted two community police officers who also kindly offered their assistance.

“The porpoise was then rolled on to the tarpaulin and carried to the nearest channel of water between two sandbanks.

“It was gently lowered into the water where after a while it successfully swam around.”

Unfortunately over the next two hours the porpoise grounded several times and more help was needed to get the mammal into deeper water each time as the tide was heading out.

Vivien added: “Thankfully more help arrived at that point! Jim Ozanne, a local resident who once saw the trouble we were having with getting the porpoise back out to sea went back home to fetch his kayak.

“When he returned he paddled out to the distant sandbank, where he entered the sea and encouraged the porpoise out to open water, well beyond the breakers which was a great result.

“We watched as we saw the porpoise headed out to sea and I just hope that is where it stayed.

“I would like to offer my thanks to Jim and all those involved, including the veterinary surgeon that arrived to assist if necessary.”