A grieving Irish mother has described how the actions of a pod of dolphins helped her come to terms with the tragic death of her son in an accident in Australia.
Donegal man Shaun McBride drowned in the Western Australian town of Dampier a fortnight ago when scaffolding collapsed into the water beneath him.
Shaun, in his late 20s, was dismantling scaffolding on the wharf on East Intercourse Island. He had only emigrated to Australia six weeks earlier.
Police divers discovered his body surrounded by a pod of dolphins after the accident with one dolphin attempting to use his nose to push the body to the surface.
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Speaking at Shaun’s funeral in Burtonport on Sunday, his mother Sylvia told mourners that she had drawn comfort after learning that the pod of dolphins had kept a vigil on his body.
The Irish Times reports that Sylvia said the remarkably affectionate scene which rescuers witnessed had a special poignancy as her son had a huge attachment to dolphins as a young child.
Perth-based priest Fr Joe Walsh told the family about the dolphins’ remarkable vigil.
Fr Walsh said: “We’ve learnt that a few hours after the accident when divers went to retrieve his body, they saw a big pod of dolphins swimming around him.
“And there was one dolphin that was using its nose to try to lift the body up to the surface.
“But it wasn’t able to do so because the body was caught up in the scaffolding.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.merefalow | Mar 29, 2013, 06:17 PM EDT
yes beautifull intelligent creatures that have helped men in many documented instances,and yet we allow them to be drowned in their thousands every year by stinking miles long ocean killing factory ships and miles wide drift nets.we are literally killing the oceans and marine life by OVERFISHING.
saraindc | Mar 22, 2013, 11:10 AM EDT
How long did it take the police divers to get there. was noone else able to jump in and try free him in time. Maybe if they had got to him sooner the dolphins could have helped get him to the surface. I read another story in a paper where a surfer got knocked out by a wave (hit on the head with his board) and the dolphins kept him above water till he was rescued by lifeguards - without them he'd have drowned or gone under.
humbergal | Aug 11, 2011, 08:32 AM EDT
This is why we shoud be kinder to dolphins and not have in pool so stupid people can swim with them. They should be free in the ocean where they belong.
AliceBernadette | Jul 12, 2011, 09:12 AM EDT
This brought tears to my eyes. They are amazing creatures. Very sad and beautiful.
oaklongan | Jul 11, 2011, 06:11 PM EDT
Antoman: Your New Zealand report is heartwarming (and chilling). The Dolphins are Messengers and Deliverers of Mercy. Truly Divine Angels.
Sparklet | Jul 11, 2011, 03:24 PM EDT
They seem to have a respect for life, and a built-in compassion that many humans don't have.
AlunPalmer | Jul 11, 2011, 03:11 PM EDT
The true mark of their intelligence seems to be that they know we have to get above water to breathe. It's not only their intelligence that amazes me, though, but their kindness.
Sparklet | Jul 11, 2011, 11:36 AM EDT
Antoman, I remember reading that story about the dolphins and the kids/shark. Wonderful creatures.
hyattsville | Jul 11, 2011, 11:30 AM EDT
Dolphins are such beautiful creatures and I can imagine that this makes the death of her son, so far away from her, a little easier for Sylvia McBride to bare. My heart goes out to her and all the loss that she has had to endure.
hunter933 | Jul 11, 2011, 11:15 AM EDT
Dolphins are special animals.
arialgirl | Jul 11, 2011, 11:10 AM EDT
murphy66 - that is a beautiful thought.
cillowen | Jul 11, 2011, 10:01 AM EDT
sweet mysteries of ... rip
mamaginnty | Jul 11, 2011, 09:16 AM EDT
Sad but beautiful, we still have a lot to learn about these wonderful creatures.
antoman | Jul 11, 2011, 08:25 AM EDT
There's a story of how a pod of Dolphins surrounded a bunch of kids in the water at Ocean beach New Zealand and prevented a Great White shark from attacking them.I've also heard at one time of a woman in Africa who was saved from drowning and carried to shore by a Dolphin.