Updates as life of Minke whale stuck in River Thames hangs in balance
The baby whale rescued on Sunday has becone stranded once again
Updated (Image: PA)
The life of a baby whale that has become stranded in the River Thames in London for the second time in 24 hours hangs in the balance , local authorities have said.
The whale, a minke between 10ft (3m) and 13ft (4m) long, was freed from a concrete bank and towed down stream after it became stuck at Richmond Lock and Weir on Sunday.
Videos showed it being hosed down by a man believed to be from the Port of London Authority (PLA), while a vet performed a check-up at the river’s edge, before the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) arrived at the scene to the cheers of onlookers at about 9pm.
A small whale freed after it became stranded along the Thames is on the move again – but is still in the river in London.
Crowds gathered at Teddington Lock in the south-west of the capital on Monday to catch a glimpse of the whale, a minke between 10ft (3m) and 13ft (4m) long.
The minke whale is now near Teddington Lock (Yui/Mok/PA)
It came after hundreds of people gathered at Richmond Lock and Weir on Sunday after the whale became stuck on the lock’s boat rollers.
Videos showed it being hosed down by a man believed to be from the Port of London Authority (PLA), while a vet performed a check-up at the river’s edge, before the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) arrived at the scene to the cheers of onlookers at about 9pm.
Minke whale calf spotted upstream in London as fears grow for its survival 10 May 2021 - 16:27
People look at the three-metre minke whale calf that had been found injured and beached on concrete, at Teddington Lock, in the River Thames, in London, Britain May 10, 2021 REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Reuters
LONDON: A three-metre injured minke whale calf was spotted swimming upstream in the River Thames on Monday in west London, just hours after rescuers rushed to save the giant mammal s life by refloating it.
A Reuters photographer spotted the whale several miles upstream from where it was refloated by a team of rescuers from the Port of London Authority, Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), British Divers Marine Life Rescue, London Fire Brigade and the police.
A small whale has been freed after it became stranded in the River Thames on Sunday evening. Crowds gathered at Richmond Lock and Weir after the whale, believed to be a Minke and between three to four metres long, became stuck on the lock’s boat rollers at around 7pm. Footage posted from the scene showed the whale finally being freed at about 1am, however it’s whereabouts are currently unknown. Videos showed the sea mammal being hosed down by a man believed to be a Port of London Authority (PLA) staffer, while a vet performed a check-up at the river’s edge, before the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) arrived at the scene to the cheers of onlookers around 9pm.
Thames whale live: Baby Minke is humanely killed as rescue mission ends in heartbreak
A large crowd gathered in Teddington as the whale became trapped for a second time
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The baby whale that became trapped in the Thames has had to be put to sleep after becoming completely beached.
This evening (Monday, May 10) the decision was taken to humanely end the life of the Minke as it became clear it couldn t be rescued.
Crowds had gathered at Teddington Lock in West London to watch as specialist divers from the RNLI tried to sedate the whale in order to move it.