A marine park in China recruited Zhang Youliang, a 7-1 retired basketball player to help save a dying dolphin that had swallowed a plastic mat.
Staff at the park say the mat got stuck in the creature’s stomach. They discovered the mat inside her when the dolphin lost her appetite.
The female dolphin named Linda fell sick recently. Doctors were unable to put the available medical equipment to use because none of the instruments were long enough to reach to object.
Doctors from the park called the local sports bureau in hopes of getting help from someone with very long arms.
Having read media reports, three basketball players – all taller than 7 feet – arrived at the park on Monday to offer a hand, or in this case, their arm. Youliang was selected to perform the tricky operation because of his arm length.
Youliang assisted 10 staff members, all holding the dolphin down while he reached into the dolphin’s stomach and removed the plastic mat.
Vets say the dolphin is expected to make a full recovery.
