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Rescue resumes as whale beaches Rescuers battling to save whale
(40 minutes later)
A 26ft (8m) whale beached off the south coast of England has got a 40% chance of survival, experts say. A 26ft (8m) whale that beached on a mudflat off the south coast of England has been freed during high tide.
An operation is being carried out to try to save the six-tonne Northern Bottlenose whale in Langstone Harbour, off the Hampshire coast. But the Northern Bottlenose whale is still in shallow water in Langstone Harbour, off Hampshire, rescuers said.
Rescuers were forced to stop work when it became dark on Thursday night and the whale later beached in low tide. The whale still only has a 40% chance of survival, experts say. Rescuers are trying to coax it out of the harbour into the deeper waters of the Solent.
The whale is said to be a young adult and is thought to be about 3,000 miles (4,828 km) off course. An operation to try to save the six-tonne whale began on Thursday but was called off when it became dark.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) resumed their operation at first light, after the whale initially became trapped on Thursday morning. The whale later beached in low tide at about 2330 BST on Thursday after experts had monitored it all day.
It has been moving its head and flapping its fins but has probably been beached for several hours overnight Stephen MarshBritish Divers Marine Life Rescue Window of opportunity
They have been attempting to move the whale on to its belly from its side to try to prevent its internal organs being crushed. It is said to be a young adult and is thought to be about 3,000 miles (4,828 km) off course.
Blood tests are being carried out to help assess its condition. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) resumed their operation at first light on Friday.
A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said the rescue team was looking at a "window of opportunity" between 1030 and 1100 BST to get the whale into deeper water. The whale was eventually placed on a pontoon, from which the creature was able to slip out into the water during a "window of opportunity" between 1030 and 1100 BST at high tide.
Blood tests were also carried out to help assess its condition.
Stephen Marsh, an advanced marine mammal medic with BDMLR, told BBC News they had about a dozen people working to save the whale and two specialist vets were on their way from London and the Isle of Wight.Stephen Marsh, an advanced marine mammal medic with BDMLR, told BBC News they had about a dozen people working to save the whale and two specialist vets were on their way from London and the Isle of Wight.
About a dozen firefighters, police, coastguards, the RNLI from Ryde and Hayling Island harbour staff were all at the scene, he said.About a dozen firefighters, police, coastguards, the RNLI from Ryde and Hayling Island harbour staff were all at the scene, he said.
The Northern Bottlenose whale is being given a 40% chance of survival Rescuers used pontoons to free the whale from mudflats
They are asking people to avoid the area to prevent distress to the animal. Extra boats could also prevent the whale moving away.They are asking people to avoid the area to prevent distress to the animal. Extra boats could also prevent the whale moving away.
Mr Marsh said the tide had been coming in rapidly since dawn, which would help the whale. Mr Marsh said the tide had been coming in rapidly since dawn. He said rescuers were now trying to coax the whale back out into deeper waters in the Solent.
"We are watering it, looking after it and assessing its condition," he said.
"It has been moving its head and flapping its fins but has probably been beached for several hours overnight.
"It is beached on top of a sandbank at present."
He said rescuers were trying to coax the whale back out into deeper waters in the Solent, but may have to put the whale on some inflatable pontoons.
The fire service was also looking at using hoses to fill up a shallow mud channel.The fire service was also looking at using hoses to fill up a shallow mud channel.
The creature is a deep diving whale and the closest water-depth required is off the Bay of Biscay - about a two-day swim for a whale, he said.The creature is a deep diving whale and the closest water-depth required is off the Bay of Biscay - about a two-day swim for a whale, he said.
Dehydration fearDehydration fear
The species feed on deep-sea squid, which are not readily available in the English Channel.The species feed on deep-sea squid, which are not readily available in the English Channel.
They also get all their water from food, so there was concern it was not getting fluids and would become dehydrated, Mr Marsh added.They also get all their water from food, so there was concern it was not getting fluids and would become dehydrated, Mr Marsh added.
The animal is a young adult, between five and six tonnes in weight, and about 8m (26.2ft) long. Northern Bottlenose whales can grow to more than 9m (30ft).The animal is a young adult, between five and six tonnes in weight, and about 8m (26.2ft) long. Northern Bottlenose whales can grow to more than 9m (30ft).
It is the same species of whale as one that died despite a massive rescue attempt to save it when it swam up the River Thames in January 2006.It is the same species of whale as one that died despite a massive rescue attempt to save it when it swam up the River Thames in January 2006.
Solent Coastguard said it was not warning ships to avoid the area but was monitoring the situation.Solent Coastguard said it was not warning ships to avoid the area but was monitoring the situation.