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TPD Dive Team Rescues Stranded Manatee

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 7, 2008

TAMPA – Tampa Police Department dive team members rescued a manatee this morning after it became stranded in a small lagoon near the 22nd Street Causeway.

The 800-to-1,000-pound sea cow was stuck in the small lagoon in McKay Bay about 9 a.m., said Sgt. Alan Draffin of the TPD Marine Unit and Dive Team. The police were called about the animal in distress stuck on some rocks, Draffin said.

Three dive team members went into the 3-foot-deep water and checked on the manatee, Draffin said. A state biologist checked on the animal and determined it wasn't hurt, he said.

"For the most part we stayed out of the way of the manatee and kind of helped guide it," Draffin said. The animal was mostly calm and didn't appear to be in any distress, he said.

After about 90 minutes, the tide rose enough to allow the rescuers to maneuver the manatee through a channel so it could make its way about 15 yards into the open water, Draffin said.

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