COASTGUARD RESCUE TEAM HELP WHALE RECOVERY

A whale which died after being beached on the Suffolk coast has today been removed.

Thames Coastguard was called about the mammal on Shingle Street near Woodbridge on Sunday afternoon.

The Shingle Street Coastguard Rescue Team attended and initially spent two hours trying to secure the 10m (33ft) whale, weighing about 10 tonnes. It was in a difficult position stranded on a small knoll and it had to be moved along the beach to ensure it wouldn’t be taken by the incoming tide.

It took great skill for the six team members to make sure the creature was secure. They also returned later that night to check it was still in position. Since Sunday, the team has been checking on the whale everyday, including this morning when it was taken away.

Richard Clarke, Shingle Street Coastguard Officer, said: “If the team had not pulled it onto the beach Sunday night, the strong tide would probably have taken it up the river. The stormy weather and swell made it very difficult and it took great team work to secure the whale and stop it from becoming a dangerous hazard.”

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