At The Lazy Wave Café on England’s Isle of Wight, visitors often stop by for coffee and ocean views — but recently, customers got a surprise guest unlike any other.
In the middle of a calm afternoon, a young grey seal pup suddenly appeared, wriggling his way across the café floor. The tiny visitor looked exhausted and confused, as if he’d wandered in hoping for a safe place to rest. Within moments, he curled up beside a bench and fell fast asleep.
The stunned staff quickly realized the pup needed help. Unsure what to do, they called British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) — a team trained to handle stranded or injured marine animals.
When BDMLR medics arrived, they examined the seal and found that he was underweight, weak, and completely worn out. Carefully, they placed him in a carrier and transported him to Carisbrooke Vets, where he was fed, warmed up, and monitored overnight.
By the next morning, the little seal was feeling a bit stronger. Rescuers then brought him to the RSPCA rehabilitation center, where he could safely recover.
“The feisty youngster was sleeping soundly for most of the journey,” BDMLR shared in a statement.
The staff named him Elmer, and for the next several months, he’ll continue gaining strength — and plenty of healthy blubber — before being released back to the wild.
“[Elmer] will spend the next couple of months regaining his strength and piling on the blubber he needs to thrive back in the wild when he is released back on the west coast,” BDMLR wrote.
Thanks to the quick actions of café staff and customers, Elmer’s unexpected detour ended in safety and care — not danger.
To support other marine rescues like Elmer’s, you can donate to British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
