Manatee dies after getting stuck in stormwater ditch in New Smyrna Beach

Manatee dies after getting trapped in shallow water

A manatee has died after becoming trapped in shallow water in a New Smyrna Beach canal. The animal did not survive the drop in temperatures overnight. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said officers were assisting with another rescue which prevented them from acting faster to save this manatee.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - A manatee that was to be rescued on Thursday has died.

A FOX 35 viewer sent in photos of the manatee that was stuck in a stormwater ditch in New Smyrna Beach.

Officials with Florida Fish and Wildlife says it may have been too cold for the manatee to survive since temperatures dipped into the 40s overnight.

FOX 35 viewer

A volunteer with FWC went into the water to check on the manatee Wednesday morning and discovered the manatee was not breathing.

"A lot of times with really cold water, they can't sustain in that very long and we're not sure how long it was in this creek."

The man who sent the photos says the manatee had been stuck near Industrial Ave. close to the New Smyrna Beach Police Department since at least Tuesday.

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