The
Bluffton Blufft n Sun August 5, 2025 • Volume 28, Issue 15 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
Should SC have red light/speed cameras? 6A
Dolphin rescued from lagoon in coordinated multi-agency effort By Sasha Sweeney Editor
In a dramatic rescue on Saturday, July 12th, a nearly 8-foot female bottlenose dolphin known as “Lucky” was freed from a shallow tidal lagoon in the Hampton Lake community and returned safely to the May River after becoming stranded following recent storms and high tides. The dolphin, estimated to weigh between 400 and 500 pounds, was first discovered by a resident who noticed it stuck in just 2 to 3 feet of water. Researchers at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, who track local dolphin populations, identified the animal as Lucky by her distinctive markings — a name that proved fitting given the outcome. Authorities believe Lucky swam through a culvert connecting the lagoon to the May River during a period of heavy rainfall and elevated tides earlier in the week. When the tide receded, she became trapped in shallow waters surrounded by vegetation and debris. At approximately 12:15 p.m., the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network — the only federally authorized responder for marine mammal strandings in South Carolina — received a call about the dolphin. The organization deployed a team from Charleston, including Executive Director Lauren Rust and responders Tracy Kowalczyk, John Kane, and Hilton Head Island-based volunteer Amber Kuehn. After assessing the situation, the team requested additional assistance from the Bluffton Township Fire District around 3:45 p.m. Rescue 335, part of South Carolina Regional Response Team 4, arrived with personnel trained in technical water rescue. With the support of residents Michael Smith and Thomas Layer, the combined team used a marine rescue tarp with stabilizing poles to corral the dolphin. Although Lucky initially swam farther
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BTFD/Stephen Combs
into the lagoon, the group eventually regrouped and safely guided her onto the tarp. Carrying the dolphin approximately 75 yards through shallow water and up a steep embankment, the team loaded her onto a utility trailer provided by Kuehn. She was then transported roughly 2 to 3 miles under fire department escort to a private dock in May River Plantation. At just before 6 p.m., Lucky was released into deeper water and swam away. The entire rescue was documented on video and in photos by the Bluffton Township Fire District and shared widely across social media platforms. Since the rescue, Lucky’s story has gone viral, reaching more than 53 million people across television, online, and social media platforms. The story was featured on ABC World News, CBS, Fox News, and hundreds of local news stations across major markets including New York, Los Angeles,
Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston. On social media, the Bluffton Township Fire District released a four-minute video capturing the full rescue, drawing widespread attention and praise for the coordinated response.
DOLPHIN CONT. ON PAGE 3A
It’s raining kittens
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