Dolphin dies after beaching itself

A dolphin that beached itself in Port Aransas Friday afternoon died about an hour after stranding itself, University of Texas Marine Science Institute officials said.

The dolphin, an old male, was found by residents who were walking near the south jetty at about 12:30 p.m., said Tony Amos, director of the Animal Rehabilitation Keep at the Marine Science Institute.

Residents first tried to push the animal back into the ocean, but it then flopped back to shore a short time later, he said.

"It was an old male and so weak, there was nothing we really could have done," Amos said.