Winter the Dolphin, the inspiration behind the film “Dolphin Tale,” died after battling intestinal issues at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday while being held by her caregivers. Winter made national headlines back in 2005 when marine scientists rescued her off the Florida coast and took her to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The bottlenose dolphin had become entangled in a crab trap line and tragically lost her tail. She later received a prosthetic replacement. She stayed at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium until her death.

Winter’s story inspired the 2011 movie “Dolphin Tale,” starring Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., and Ashley Judd. Moviemakers based the film on Winter’s journey from her injury as a calf to receiving her prosthetic tail and her progress afterward. The film would go on to receive a sequel, released in 2014.

Austin Highsmith Garces, who played Phoebe in both movies, shared a message about Winter’s death on Twitter. She said in part, “Some of my favorite memories were made with this incredible animal. I will miss you forever, Winter.” She went on to say that Winter changed the world. Harry Connick Jr. also shared a message about Winter on his Instagram page. In his video message, he talked about how Winter changed the world, and he’s sorry for all the people at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

In a statement, the aquarium shared that Winter’s resiliency inspires many people. This fantastic response reminds us of how deeply she has affected millions, including so many on their health journey. The aquarium will close on Friday and Saturday to allow staff members to grieve. On November 1, 2021, team members at the aquarium noticed that Winter wasn’t acting like usual and wasn’t interested in eating. On November 10, 2021, test results showed that even with aggressive treatment from aquarium staff, abnormalities in her intestines intensified, making Winter’s condition critical.

Animal care experts at the aquarium worked with veterinary specialists from around the United States and the world to explore all possibilities to save Winter. Winter dealt with intestinal issues in the past but bounced back from those struggles. Despite their efforts, Winter died at 16-years-old. Winter was more than a dolphin to those she touched. She was an inspiration and a beacon of hope. Winter taught us that no matter what the circumstances, we have to keep going. Whether it’s losing a tail or something else, perseverance is the only way to make it through the hard times.

Winter also taught us that you never know who’s watching you and cheering for you. She probably never imagined that she would become somewhat of an icon or a symbol. So many people learned about Winter’s story and supported her. Although she was a dolphin, Winter was able to touch the heart of millions. Her story is a testament that you never know what God will use to inspire others. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium will dearly miss Winter, and so will all of her supporters. There are currently no plans for a memorial for Winter, but the Clearwater Marine Aquarium will announce them soon.