This is the moment a group of rescuers save 12 dolphins that were found stranded on a Chinese beach by local fishermen.

The incident was filmed in the area of Xinpu in the city of Cixi located in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang at around 6.50am on 30th September.

According to local media, a group of fishermen found 12 stranded dolphins on the beach and immediately alerted the authorities.

The city council sent a team to the beach to start a rescue operation in accordance with emergency rescue protocols in place for marine animals.

The beached dolphins ranged in age and size and their vital signs were stable when they were found.

However, some dolphins were partially buried in the sand with shallow breathing and the team of rescuers took advantage of the changing tide to assist them back to open sea.

The rescuers dug the sand around the beached dolphins and eventually helped them out to sea after a three-hour operation.

In the footage, the team is seen using a caged platform to rest the beached dolphins on in the shallow water.

The second video shows rescuers rolling the dolphins further out to sea in the ankle-high water.

In the third clip, a man is seen assisting two dolphins close to the shore as they apparently approach deeper water.

Local media confirmed that all 12 dolphins were successfully helped back to sea.