The animal was seen swimming in shallow water, apparently exhausted, and was nudged gently to shore, using a jet ski, so that it could be caught by staff of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) at Cape Panwa.
After examining the dolphin, thought to be about two years old, PMBC vet Patcharaporn Keaemoang said the dolphin had a blood infection.
Despite intensive care at the PMBC, including a course of antibiotics, the animal succumbed to its illness.