A beached marine mammal rescue exercise using three-tonne scale models took place in Saltcoats recently.

The Mass Stranding Exercise was carried out by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), Ardrossan Coastguard and Police Scotland on Saturday, October 6. The exercise was designed to test the response to a simulated stranding of two pilot whales and a dolphin on Saltcoats beach.

David Devoy, area coordinator at BDMLR Clydeside and Ayrshire, said: “The exercise went really well and the inter-agency working with the coastguard made the day very realistic and worthwhile for both teams.”

Kevin Paterson, station officer at Ardrossan Coastguard, added: “The training session was invaluable for all persons involved and provided an excellent insight into how the BDMLR medics would respond to a marine mammal stranding, and also the essential support role which would be provided by the Coastguard Rescue Service to ensure the safety of the marine mammal medics and the wider public.”

Teams arrived on the scene to two stranded pilot whales on the main beach and a dolphin which had got itself stuck in the old boating pond.

Following an initial assessment of the area, BDMLR medics conducted a safety briefing and thereafter deployed to the shoreline to begin the welfare phase of the operation. As additional marine mammal medics arrived on scene in real time, including a qualified vet, the exercise progressed to the recovery phase with efforts made to refloat the stranded mammals back into the sea.

Any member of the public who comes across a stranded marine mammal should not approach it or make any attempt to enter the water. Contact the coastguard on 999 or call BDMLR direct on 01825 765546 or 07787 433412 after hours and give details of the location and what you see.