Volunteer crew members from Helvick RNLI responded to an unusual call yesterday evening.

They were alerted to reports of a dolphin stranded in Dungarvan Bay.

However, it turned out to be a rarely seen whale.

The Sowerby’s Beaked Whale is usually found in deep offshore waters of the North Atlantic.

After several attempts, the seven crew members from Helvick managed to tow the whale from Dungarvan Bay to open water.

Picture taken from the shore, Baile na nGall (western shore of Dungarvan Bay). Boat is staying off; some crew are already on the shore. Took two attempts, but at the second, when towed to deep water, the whale seems to have been happy to swim off (image copyright Catherine Foley) pic.twitter.com/xL28socc8E — Helvick Head RNLI (@HelvickHeadRNLI) August 30, 2019