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PEI

'All of a sudden it surfaced with three other dolphins': Coast Guard helps reunite lost dolphin with family

An unusual visitor paid a visit to the harbour in Summerside, P.E.I., Sunday and received a friendly escort back to safety.

Dolphin in possible distress was spotted in the harbour near the yacht club

The dolphin was reunited with its family when it reached deeper water. (Submitted/Troy Perry)

An unusual visitor paid a visit to the harbour in Summerside, P.E.I. Sunday and received a friendlyescort back to safety.

Troy Perry, with the Canadian Coast Guardsaid someone came to the door of the local base and reported seeing a small dolphin, possibly in distress by the Summerside Yacht Club.

A crew set out to find the dolphin and usedtheir boat to guideit back to open water beyond the breakwater.

Perry said that's where the dolphin appeared to reunite with its family.

"It was kind of cool because whenever we got around the breakwater in a little bit deeper water, the dolphin kind of went under the water like I said for about a minute," said Perry.

A dolphin was escorted back to open water after finding its way in the harbour in Summerside Sunday. (Submitted/Mark Gaudet)

"We were kind of wondering did it just take off and then all of a sudden it surfaced with three other dolphins so it was kind of neat to see."

Perry said the dolphins played around the boat for about five minutes and then swam further offshore.

While the Coast Guard doesn't usually help animals in distress, Perry said they were happy to be part of this reunion.

"We don't have any training in it or anything, we just kept on following. Every time the dolphin turned towards, or turned to come back towards the shore, we just kind of headed it off and made sure it went around the corner."

With files from Stephanie Brown