It was a bright, sunny day at Norah Head Beach in New South Wales, Australia, when a beachgoer noticed something unusual in one of the tide pools left behind by the receding ocean.
A dark shadow moved beneath the surface.
Curious, the woman stepped closer — and quickly realized the shadow belonged to a large ray trapped in the shallow pool. As word spread, small groups of people gathered nearby, snapping photos and edging closer. But the woman noticed something more alarming: the water level was dropping fast.
If nothing was done, the ray would soon be stranded.
She immediately called Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast (MWRCC), who dispatched rescue volunteers Jessie Fancett and Cathy Gilmore to the scene.
When the rescuers arrived, they placed a cone in the sand to track the rapidly falling water level. With help from other wildlife experts, they identified the animal as a southern eagle ray, a species known for its flat snout and smooth gray-blue coloring.
And the clock was ticking.
“By the time we had the equipment ready, more than half the water had already drained from the rock pool,” Gilmore, founder of MWRCC, told The Dodo. “Time was of the essence.”
The rescuers quickly realized they couldn’t do it alone. They turned to the crowd and asked for help — and hands shot up everywhere.
“We gave everyone a quick briefing on what needed to be done, and the rescue began,” Gilmore said.
Working together for about 40 minutes, the team carefully guided the ray into a large sheet. A wet towel was gently placed over his tail for safety, and then the group lifted him in unison and carried him across the sand toward the ocean.
The moment they released him, the ray wasted no time.
“He swam off strongly with no stress, back toward the rocks and into deeper water,” Gilmore said.
Just minutes later, the tide pool that had trapped him was completely empty.
The rescue had happened just in time.
“Everyone was cheering and so happy,” Gilmore said.
The rescuers hope the story encourages others to respond the same way if they ever encounter wildlife in trouble: call a local rescue organization and keep a safe distance while waiting for help.
In this case, one quick phone call — and a group of willing strangers — made all the difference.
“A successful rescue and release is always the best feeling,” Gilmore said. “Being able to respond quickly and having the public step in to help was incredible.”
To support rescues like this, you can donate to Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast and help protect animals in need.
