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| Humpback whale spotted in River Thames found dead | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A humpback whale seen swimming in the River Thames over the weekend has died. | A humpback whale seen swimming in the River Thames over the weekend has died. |
| The mammal was spotted lying motionless on mudflats along the River Thames at Greenhithe on Tuesday afternoon. | The mammal was spotted lying motionless on mudflats along the River Thames at Greenhithe on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Sam Lipman, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), said the death was "not wholly unexpected". | Sam Lipman, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), said the death was "not wholly unexpected". |
| BDMLR said the whale, seen surfacing off Greenhithe on Sunday, was "definitely a humpback" and was probably lost but did not appear to be in any distress. | BDMLR said the whale, seen surfacing off Greenhithe on Sunday, was "definitely a humpback" and was probably lost but did not appear to be in any distress. |
| "It's really sad to find a humpback whale like this, deceased," Mr Lipman said. | "It's really sad to find a humpback whale like this, deceased," Mr Lipman said. |
| "As the days were going on, we were seeing more photos of its condition, we were starting to realise that maybe it wasn't in the greatest of health. | "As the days were going on, we were seeing more photos of its condition, we were starting to realise that maybe it wasn't in the greatest of health. |
| "I think we weren't expecting this to happen so soon and we were hoping it wasn't going to happen at all," he added. | "I think we weren't expecting this to happen so soon and we were hoping it wasn't going to happen at all," he added. |
| The BDMLR had said the creature likely arrived because of a navigational error, possibly during the recent high spring tides. | The BDMLR had said the creature likely arrived because of a navigational error, possibly during the recent high spring tides. |
| A year ago "Benny the beluga" spent about three months in the busy waterway. | A year ago "Benny the beluga" spent about three months in the busy waterway. |
| On Sunday, a group of volunteers had observed the mammal surfacing repeatedly over a three-hour period. | On Sunday, a group of volunteers had observed the mammal surfacing repeatedly over a three-hour period. |
| A Port of London Authority (PLA) spokesman said people who had seen it had estimated it was five or 10 metres in length. | A Port of London Authority (PLA) spokesman said people who had seen it had estimated it was five or 10 metres in length. |
| Postings on social media have been mourning the humpback's death. | Postings on social media have been mourning the humpback's death. |