Image caption Dan McElroy and daughter Evie approach the distressed dolphin for the first time

Image caption Dan decides to attempt a rescue, with Evie looking on

Image caption Dan cautiously lifts the dolphin: "It was heavier than I thought"

Image caption Followed by Evie, Dan and the dolphin make their way out to sea

A family's beach day out turned into more of an adventure than they could have imagined.

Dan and Lorna McElroy, with their four-year-old daughter Evie and 20-month-old son Franky, had travelled from their home in Manchester to visit family in Co Donegal.

They were staying in their family's caravan on the beach at Manor Park, near Rosnowlagh, when they came across a stranded dolphin.

"We were just having a family day out at the beach," said Mr McElroy. "I saw something on the sand, but thought it was just a rock.

"After a while I noticed it had a fin shape to it, so I went to take a look.

"It was then we discovered it was actually a dolphin. I couldn't believe it was there. It was amazing.

"It was completely beached and must have been lying there for a while, as it was covered in sand and was struggling to breath. It really looked as though it was on its way out."

'I knew it would be OK'

Watched by daughter Evie, with wife Lorna taking photos, Dan decided to try to rescue the dolphin.

"I carried it out towards the ocean. It was really quite heavy.

"I managed to get it to deep enough water to put it down. It took some time, but eventually it started swimming by itself and at that point I knew it would be OK.

"It stayed with us, swimming beside us for an hour, which was great.

"Then it went further out to sea to join a group of dolphins that were out in the deeper water.

"It's nice to think that perhaps it swam with us for that hour as a thank you. It's what I'll tell my daughter anyway."