A dramatic scene unfolded at the water's edge on St. Simons Island's East Beach in Georgia, where short-finned pilot whales thrashed and clicked amid breaking waves in Tuesday's late afternoon sun.

“They're going to die if they don't get help,” urged a woman's voice in a widely shared video.

Dixie V. McCoy, holding her 2-year-old granddaughter while filming on Facebook Live, captured dozens of beachgoers and lifeguards shoveling water onto the distressed whales with their hands. Some ventured chest-deep into the surf—despite shark warnings—to guide the animals seaward.

“They were so eager to help those poor whales,” Ms. McCoy said. “It was truly spectacular.”

Nearly 50 whales entered shallow waters, with up to six refloated successfully, per Mark Mallory, spokesman for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division, among the first responders on site.

Tragically, three whales perished, including one euthanized.

By Wednesday afternoon, harbor pilots spotted the pod of over 40 whales in the Brunswick shipping channel, monitored by boat from the National Marine Mammal Foundation.

“We're cautiously optimistic they've avoided disaster and are heading to deeper waters,” said biologist Clay George of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division.

Aerial helicopter surveys confirmed no additional strandings near this area, 90 miles south of Savannah.

Pilot whales, large dolphins reaching 24 feet and 6,600 pounds, rarely strand here. Mr. George called the event “exceedingly rare in Georgia,” attributing it to their social nature: “If one gets sick or injured, the pod follows, potentially stranding en masse.”

These ocean-dwellers typically stay 100 miles offshore, suggesting an earlier mishap. Necropsies will examine for plastic ingestion, netting, or acoustic disturbances like sonar.

“This could take weeks,” Mr. George noted. Though he generally advises against human intervention, here it proved vital.

Dr. Erin Fougeres, NOAA Southeast marine mammal stranding coordinator, noted 23 such events in the Southeast since 1991—mostly Gulf Coast, none prior in Georgia.

For sightings, call NOAA's 1-877-WHALE-HELP or use the “Dolphin and Whale 911” app.

“Fingers crossed, this has the best outcome possible. Happy endings are rare,” she said.

Originally published by The New York Times. Click here for the original post. 

Photo courtesy of Jordan Chriqui, Coastal Backwater Adventures.