A huge 10-metre sperm whale has washed up alive on a UK beach as rescuers battled to keep it alive. The giant sea creature wound up on a beach in Cleethorpes, near Grimsby, in North East Lincolnshire today.
Locals were stunned and authorities were called to the scene just after noon.
The whale could be seen from the end of the pier, with marine experts and divers now present at the scene.
Specialists from Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue and British Divers Marine Life Rescue both tended to the stricken mammal.
Fortunately, the incoming tide resubmerged the whale, which may have otherwise been difficult to move due to its weight and size.
Despite being some distance from the general public, onlookers were understandably drawn to the challenging scene.
Video footage shows rescue staff dealing with the stranded whale, as water can be lapping around its massive body.
Despite the sperm whale now being once more underwater, the Coastguard remains on the scene in case it once again gets into difficulties.
Incidents of this kind are not uncommon. In 2015 another huge whale arrived on the UK’s east coast.
Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue said in a statement: “Today we attended Cleethorpes Beach for multiple reports of a stranded sperm whale.
“As we arrived British Divers Marine Life Rescue had just started to make way over to the whale and did not wish for assistance so our team stood down while they continued their work.”
