A sick dolphin stranded on a Texas beach died Sunday after a crowd of beachgoers harassed the mammal by pushing it back into the sea and trying to swim with it.

A statement Tuesday from the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network explained the incident at Quintana Beach, located south of Houston.

"She was ultimately stranded and was further harassed by a crowd of people on the beach where she later died before rescuers could arrive on scene," the post reads.

It is illegal to cause stress or interact with dolphins in these situations.

“This type of harassment causes undue stress to wild dolphins, is dangerous for the people who interact with them, and is illegal - punishable by fines and jail time if convicted,” the statement reads.

A call had been made to the Quintana Beach County Park to report the stranded dolphin but rescuers were unable to save it. The park called the situation "a tragedy."

The Texas Marine Mammal Network explained that if a live dolphin or whale is found stranded that it is important to not push the animal back to sea, and especially not to attempt to swim, interact, or overcrowd them.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommend people observe marine mammals from at least 150 feet away.

"Park staff was called to assist in keeping the public away from the dolphin until rescuers could arrive from Galveston. Unfortunately, it was a retrieval, not a rescue. The animal was taken for necropsy to try and determine the cause of the stranding," the Quintana Beach County Park said in a statement.

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