WINTER THE DOLPHIN

On the 16th anniversary of her rescue, Clearwater Marine Aquarium proudly announced Friday its plans to honor Winter the Dolphin’s long legacy.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — Florida’s most famous dolphin Winter, beloved by fans around the world and star of the movie “Dolphin Tale,” died of twisted intestines, according to necropsy results released by the aquarium Saturday. But the prosthetic tail and the dolphin’s miraculous recovery offered hopes to many with illnesses and disabilities. The staff said they worked around the clock in recent days to try to save 16-year-old Winter and minimize her pain. The prosthetic tail then slid snugly over the sleeve. Fans — including autistic children and soldiers with missing limbs — made pilgrimages to visit Winter, star of the 2011 film “Dolphin Tale,” which chronicled her recovery.

Winter touched millions of lives with her story but perhaps the one she touched the most was Jim Savage, the man who found her in the Mosquito Lagoon 16 years ago.

Winter, the prosthetic-tailed dolphin that starred in the “Dolphin Tale” movies, died during treatment on Thursday, according to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Winter the dolphin is currently battling a possible gastrointestinal infection.