This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-19248874#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Beached whale at Carlyon Bay put down by vets | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A whale washed up on the beach in Cornwall has been put down after vets said it was too sick to be saved. | |
Rescuers were called to the scene in Carlyon Bay where the 65ft (20m) whale was reported stranded at 04:45 BST. | Rescuers were called to the scene in Carlyon Bay where the 65ft (20m) whale was reported stranded at 04:45 BST. |
Vets from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said there was no hope of refloating the animal. | Vets from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said there was no hope of refloating the animal. |
Faye Archell, of the BDMLR, said destroying the animal was an "incredibly difficult decision to take" but it was also in its best interests. | |
She said: "It is incredibly under nourished and has a very high breathing rate which suggests it is very sick and distressed." | She said: "It is incredibly under nourished and has a very high breathing rate which suggests it is very sick and distressed." |
The whale, stranded on an outgoing tide, was also injured around one eye and there were reports of a gash on its underside. | The whale, stranded on an outgoing tide, was also injured around one eye and there were reports of a gash on its underside. |
She said: "It would be wrong for us to put a sick animal back into the sea. We are frustrated about it but we cannot help it." | She said: "It would be wrong for us to put a sick animal back into the sea. We are frustrated about it but we cannot help it." |
A crowd of about 300 people were at the scene which was cordoned off to prevent further distress to the whale. | A crowd of about 300 people were at the scene which was cordoned off to prevent further distress to the whale. |
Insp Dave Meredith, of Devon and Cornwall Police, tweeted: "The stranded whale has now passed away. Due to its injuries and poor condition there was no hope of rescue. A very sad incident for us all." | |
Coastguards said the animal was reported to them as thrashing about in the shallow water at the beach near St Austell. | Coastguards said the animal was reported to them as thrashing about in the shallow water at the beach near St Austell. |
Brixham Coastguard watch manager Paul Myers called it a "very distressing scene". | Brixham Coastguard watch manager Paul Myers called it a "very distressing scene". |
The fin whale, the second largest animal on the planet, is an endangered species. | |
The BDMLR is a voluntary network of trained experts who respond to calls by the public and emergency services when whales are stranded. | The BDMLR is a voluntary network of trained experts who respond to calls by the public and emergency services when whales are stranded. |