By Sheila Stone (BDMLR)
If you were at Westbrook Bay yesterday (July 16) after 6pm you may have been surprised to see what looked like whales stranded on the shoreline.
This was, in fact, a mass stranding exercise by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) using models of pilot whales and a dolphin acting as a calf.
The event started in the morning with messages being sent out about a group of whales behaving strangely off the coast of Essex. Medics were mobilised at 6pm to attend the stranding at Westbrook Bay beach. This was to encourage qualified medics to put their training into practice and identify areas where more support is needed.
Even though it is very rare to have whales strand in this area, if there was to be a mass stranding anywhere in the country, medics would be mobilised from all areas to assist, so it is important that training is put into practice on a regular basis.
BDMLR is a registered charity consisting of more than 3000 volunteers around the country. Although seal rescue has remained a key component of the charity’s work, it has become progressively more involved in the response to stranded and entangled cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoise). The most recent being in the Orkney Islands where 77 whales stranded.
If you would like further information or to train as a medic, please visit www.bdmlr.org.uk
If you see a marine animal stranded or in distress please call the BDMLR hotline on 01825 765546. If possible give the location using the What3Words app.
