A dolphin saved from drowning in the surf at a Long Island beach Thursday afternoon by cops and animal rescuers died yesterday morning at a rescue facility.

Just minutes before its demise, the male common dolphin had been swimming under its own power in a tank at the Riverhead facility, although it was critically ill.

Riverhead Marine Foundation spokesman Rescuer Rob DiGiovanni said a necropsy would be conducted.

“Our intent is always to see these animals go back out into the wild, so we don’t ever want to see this,” said DiGiovanni.