A wayward dolphin found its way into the Gowanus Canal this afternoon. The internet went wild with anticipation and excitement around it’s potential rescue. However a happy ending was not in the cards for the sea mammal we nicknamed “Vito”:

We are naming the @gowanusdolphin “Vito”

— The Brooklyn Bugle (@BrooklynBugle) January 25, 2013

CBS NY: The dolphin that appeared to have lost its way and became stranded in the Gowanus Canal died early Friday evening.

The wayward animal stopped moving shortly after 5:30 p.m. after getting wedged between a rock and a pillar below the Union Street Bridge, 1010 WINS’ Sonia Rincon reported.

Witnesses said they saw the dolphin flop around and struggle and hit its head against a pillar before it stopped moving and began floating.

Gowanus Dolphin, We Hardly Knew Ye

A dolphin lost in the Gowanus Canal, who we named "Vito", enchanted us on January 24.

Storified by Brooklyn Bugle· Fri, Jan 25 2013 18:27:27

Photo: @frosenblum via Twitter

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