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Rescue resumes as whale beaches Rescue resumes as whale beaches
(41 minutes later)
An operation to try to save a 26ft (8m) whale off the south coast of England has resumed after it became beached overnight on a sandbank. A 26ft (8m) whale beached off the south coast of England has got a 40% chance of survival, experts say.
The six-tonne whale became stranded in Chichester Harbour, off the Hampshire and Sussex coast, on Thursday morning. An operation is being carried out to try to save the six-tonne Northern Bottlenose whale in Langstone Harbour, off the Hampshire coast.
Rescuers were forced to stop work when it became dark and the whale later beached during low tide overnight.Rescuers were forced to stop work when it became dark and the whale later beached during low tide overnight.
The Northern Bottlenose whale is said to be a young adult and is about 3,000 miles (4,828 km) off course. The whale is said to be a young adult and is thought to be about 3,000 miles (4,828 km) off course.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) resumed their operation at first light. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) resumed their operation at first light, after the whale initially became trapped on Thursday morning.
It has been moving its head and flapping its fins but has probably been beached for several hours overnight Stephen MarshBritish Divers Marine Life Rescue Stephen Marsh, an advanced marine mammal medic with BDMLR, told BBC News they had about a dozen people working to save the whale and two specialist vets were on their way from London and the Isle of Wight. It has been moving its head and flapping its fins but has probably been beached for several hours overnight Stephen MarshBritish Divers Marine Life Rescue
They have been attempting to move the whale on to its belly from its side to try to prevent its internal organs being crushed.
Blood tests are being carried out to help assess its condition.
A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said the rescue team was looking at a "window of opportunity" between 1030 and 1100 BST to get the whale into deeper water.
Stephen Marsh, an advanced marine mammal medic with BDMLR, told BBC News they had about a dozen people working to save the whale and two specialist vets were on their way from London and the Isle of Wight.
About a dozen firefighters, police, coastguards, the RNLI from Ryde and Hayling Island harbour staff were all at the scene, he said.About a dozen firefighters, police, coastguards, the RNLI from Ryde and Hayling Island harbour staff were all at the scene, he said.
The Northern Bottlenose whale is being given a 40% chance of survival
They are asking people to avoid the area to prevent distress to the animal. Extra boats could also prevent the whale moving away.They are asking people to avoid the area to prevent distress to the animal. Extra boats could also prevent the whale moving away.
Inflatable pontoons Mr Marsh said the tide had been coming in rapidly since dawn, which would help the whale.
"The tide is coming in fairly rapidly now," he said. "We are watering it, looking after it and assessing its condition," he said.
"We are watering it, looking after it and assessing its condition.
"It has been moving its head and flapping its fins but has probably been beached for several hours overnight."It has been moving its head and flapping its fins but has probably been beached for several hours overnight.
"It is beached on top of a sandbank at present.""It is beached on top of a sandbank at present."
He said rescuers were currently trying to coax the whale back out into deeper waters in the Solent, but may have to put the whale on some inflatable pontoons. He said rescuers were trying to coax the whale back out into deeper waters in the Solent, but may have to put the whale on some inflatable pontoons.
The fire service was also looking at using hoses to fill up a shallow mud channel.The fire service was also looking at using hoses to fill up a shallow mud channel.
The creature is a deep diving whale and the closest water-depth required is off the Bay of Biscay - about a two-day swim for a whale, he said.The creature is a deep diving whale and the closest water-depth required is off the Bay of Biscay - about a two-day swim for a whale, he said.
Dehydration fearDehydration fear
The species feed on deep-sea squid, which are not readily available in the English Channel.The species feed on deep-sea squid, which are not readily available in the English Channel.
They also get all their water from food, so there was concern it was not getting fluids and would become dehydrated, Mr Marsh added.They also get all their water from food, so there was concern it was not getting fluids and would become dehydrated, Mr Marsh added.
The animal is a young adult, between five and six tonnes in weight, and about 8m (26.2ft) long. Northern Bottlenose whales can grow to more than 9m (30ft).The animal is a young adult, between five and six tonnes in weight, and about 8m (26.2ft) long. Northern Bottlenose whales can grow to more than 9m (30ft).
It is the same species of whale as one that died despite a massive rescue attempt to save it when it swam up the River Thames in January 2006.It is the same species of whale as one that died despite a massive rescue attempt to save it when it swam up the River Thames in January 2006.
Solent Coastguard said it was not warning ships to avoid the area but was monitoring the situation.Solent Coastguard said it was not warning ships to avoid the area but was monitoring the situation.