Rescuers save seal

WILDLIFE rescuers came to the aid of a stranded seal as they trained on West Beach, Newhaven.

Members of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service (ESWRAS) and British Divers Marine Life Rescue had spent Friday morning learning how to aid sea mammals in distress when a seal pup was spotted washed ashore.

Trevor Weeks, ESWRAS rescue co-ordinator, said: 'I had literally just been teaching other rescuers how to catch a seal and then we had to do it.'

But the animal was unwell and could not be returned to the sea.

'It was very malnourished, the mother was seen out at sea, but this poor one would have died if we had left it,' said Trevor.

The animal was taken to a specialist RSPCA unit in Norfolk where it will be nursed back to health.

Prior to the rescue West Beach visitors had taken part in lessons showing how to help a dolphin in distress.

Trevor said: 'Our main aim was to educate people about what to do before a marine mammal medic arrived.

'The response from people was very positive, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.'

A plastic model of a dolphin was used to practice ways to help.

People of all ages were shown how a dolphin should be kept in an upright position and a trench dug beneath its lower fins to ensure its weight was not resting on them.

To keep its body temperature stable blankets and towels were used to cover it and water sprayed to keep it moist.

To ensure it could breath comfortably its blow hole was kept clear of water and sand.

Pictured: Trevor Weeks shows how to help stranded seals. L32004d