Bluffton, United States - July 12, 2025 On July 12, 2025, a female dolphin named Lucky was rescued from a shallow tidal lagoon in the Hampton Lake community and safely released back into the May River. Measuring 238 cm, Lucky had entered the lagoon through a culvert during heavy rains and rising tides. As the tide receded, she became stranded in just 2–3 feet of water. A passerby spotted the dolphin and contacted a neighbor, who notified the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN). LMMN is federally authorized to handle marine mammals in South Carolina. LMMN received the call at 12:15 p.m. and sent a team from Charleston: Executive Director Lauren Rust, Tracy Kowalczyk, John Kane, and local volunteer Amber Kuehn. Once on site, they requested help at 3:45 p.m. from the Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD). Rescue 335 arrived after 4:00 p.m. with firefighters trained in technical water rescue. They joined the LMMN team and local residents Michael Smith and Thomas Layer to secure Lucky using a marine rescue tarp and stabilizing poles. Though the dolphin initially swam away, the team regrouped and successfully guided her onto the tarp. They carried her about 75 yards through shallow water and up a steep bank. Lucky, weighing 400–500 pounds, was placed on a utility trailer provided by Amber Kuehn and escorted to a private dock in May River Plantation. She was released into deeper water just before 6:00 p.m. “This was a textbook example of interagency teamwork and calm under pressure,” said Lauren Rust. BTFD personnel included Lt. Jeffrey Smith, Senior Firefighter Dave Adams, Driver/Operators Brandon Driscoll and Tony Crosetto, and Senior Firefighter Aaron Angel. The entire rescue was recorded by BTFD and will be shared on official platforms.