So it was a great way to end 2010 when the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and some voluntary helpers managed to return the favour.
They helped a young bottle-nose dolphin find his way back to freedom on 31 December after it had been found alive, but in distress among the rocks near Herold’s Bay.
The dolphin was found during the morning and placed in a tidal pool to keep it safe. Deon van der Merwe of Stellenbosch carried the dolphin to safety.
Hennie Niehaus, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said that NSRI Wilderness volunteers responded at about 11:00 to a call from Herold’s Bay following reports of a dolphin beached.
"On arrival on scene we found a young bottle-nose dolphin that members of George Fire and Rescue Service and lifeguards had placed into a rock pool in an effort to keep it alive.
"The dolphin had been found washed up on the beach and a large crowd of concerned onlookers had gathered.
"The dolphin appeared to be almost lifeless but we carried it from the rock pool to our sea rescue craft Serendipity.
"At literally the first wave we went over, as we headed out to sea with the dolphin on-board, the dolphin appeared to come alive and showed some enthusiasm.
"We dropped the young dolphin off about one nautical mile out to sea.
"It then raced around our sea rescue craft, about four times, appearing to do a display before finally heading off into the ocean."
There have been no further sightings of the dolphin, according to Craig Lambinon of the NSRI communications department.
"We trust this means all is well," he said.
