NEW : Despite rescue efforts , dolphin dies . The dolphin was stranded in Brooklyn 's heavily polluted Gowanus Canal . New York ( CNN ) -- A dolphin stranded in Brooklyn 's highly polluted Gowanus Canal on Friday has died , according to the Riverhead Foundation . It died of a bacterial infection that caused it to die from starvation and dehydration. Rescuers had hoped to wait until high tide to determine whether dolphin could free itself .
NEW : Despite rescue efforts , dolphin dies . The dolphin was stranded in Brooklyn 's heavily polluted Gowanus Canal . It died of a bacterial infection that caused it to die from starvation and dehydration. Rescuers had hoped to wait until high tide to determine whether dolphin could free itself .