REMARKABLE footage shows a porpoise stranded in shin-deep water in a tiny stream just metres from homes.
The porpoise was discovered at least two miles from the safety of the Forth after a disastrous navigation error left in the middle of a housing estate.
Michelle Ferrier, from Grangemouth, Falkirk, was out walking her dog Buddy early this morning (TUE) when he noticed something splashing in the low water.
The chance discovery probably saved the life of the mammal as rescuers rushed to the scene, removed it in a tarpaulin, and released it into the Forth shortly afterwards.
Michelle, 47, at first thought Buddy had spotted a large trout in the Grange Burn.
When she realised it was a porpoise, Michelle waded in and stayed with it for over half an hour – splashing water on it and trying to keep it calm until rescue arrived.
Michelle’s clip has been viewed over 1,300 times since it was posted this morning.
The footage shows the porpoise swimming in the dark brown water of the burn.
The distressed dolphin can be seen turning itself over and exposing its white belly in distress and splashing around in the water.
Speaking today, Michelle said: “I was out walking with my dog Buddy at around 7am this morning, it was actually him that spotted it.
“There was some splashing going on, and I realised it was a porpoise. It’s quite far in land from the Firth of Forth, and it was turning over because the water was only shin deep. It was really struggling.
“I got in the water with it for about 35 minutes while we waited on the divers coming, I had to keep splashing water on it. It’s tidal here so I think it must have been washed in during the night and been stuck there until I spotted it.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting to see that, I’ve seen plenty of things in that burn over the years but never a porpoise. I actually thought it was a trout, I thought I had my dinner sorted.”
She added: “The divers got it in the tarpaulin and we stood on the side of the burn as they passed it up to us. Then we helped get it into the van where they put plenty of wet towels, and then they took it to be released at Blackness.”
On social media, Kelly Mcdonagh said: “Omg! Defo not something you see everyday. I hope they get him back to sea ok.”
Denise Beattie added: “That’s unreal.”
