New York ( CNN ) -- A dolphin stranded in Brooklyn 's highly polluted Gowanus Canal on Friday has died , according to the Riverhead Foundation . Emergency personnel gathered in New York Friday alongside the canal , which borders Brooklyn 's Red Hook neighborhood , in an effort to rescue the marine mammal , which inadvertently had become trapped in the channel 's muck and mud . After being stuck in murky low-tide waters for most of the day , the Common Dolphin passed away Friday evening , according to Joanne Biegert of the Riverhead Foundation . Biegert said there were no further details on what was going to be done with the animal 's carcass . `` Usually when you see reports like this ( of a dolphin trapped in low water ) it means the animal is injured , '' Allison McHale of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration said Friday . `` It 's not a good sign when you see it by itself , '' Mchale told CNN . `` It 's very uncommon for a dolphin or any marine animal to be in the Gowanus , but it 's happened before , '' Rob DiGiovanni , Riverhead Foundation 's director and senior biologist , told CNN Friday . In addition to foundation personnel , NYPD emergency service units were also on scene , according to NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne . CNN 's Kristinia Sgueglia and Lawrence Crook contributed to this report .
NEW : Despite rescue efforts , dolphin dies . The dolphin was stranded in Brooklyn 's heavily polluted Gowanus Canal . Emergency personnel gathered Friday alongside the canal . Rescuers had hoped to wait until high tide to determine whether dolphin could free itself .