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Dead whale off Isle of Grain prompts navigation alert Thames Estuary dead whale sparks coastguard alert
(about 1 hour later)
A dead whale has been spotted in the Thames Estuary off the Isle of Grain in Kent, Thames coastguard has said.A dead whale has been spotted in the Thames Estuary off the Isle of Grain in Kent, Thames coastguard has said.
Local navigation warnings have been issued to vessels in the area to avoid the animal. Coastguards are making plans for the carcass to be towed to Sheerness docks where Natural History Museum staff will examine it, a spokesman said.
Coastguards are keeping a watch on the carcass and will decide what to do with the body if it washes on shore, a spokesman said. Navigation warnings were earlier being issued to vessels in the area to avoid the whale, thought to be a humpback, while coastguards kept a watch on it.
The whale, thought to be a humpback, was spotted by the crew on a nearby tug and reported at about 07:00 GMT. But it later drifted closer to shore, coastguards said.
It was spotted by the crew on a nearby tug and reported at about 07:00 GMT.