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Rescuers battling to save whale Rescuers battling to save whale
(10 minutes later)
A 26ft (8m) whale that beached on a mudflat off the south coast of England has been freed during high tide.A 26ft (8m) whale that beached on a mudflat off the south coast of England has been freed during high tide.
But the Northern Bottlenose whale is still in shallow water in Langstone Harbour, off Hampshire, rescuers said.But the Northern Bottlenose whale is still in shallow water in Langstone Harbour, off Hampshire, rescuers said.
The whale still only has a 40% chance of survival, experts say. Rescuers are trying to coax it out of the harbour into the deeper waters of the Solent.The whale still only has a 40% chance of survival, experts say. Rescuers are trying to coax it out of the harbour into the deeper waters of the Solent.
An operation to try to save the six-tonne whale began on Thursday but was called off when it became dark.An operation to try to save the six-tonne whale began on Thursday but was called off when it became dark.
The whale later beached in low tide at about 2330 BST on Thursday after experts had monitored it all day.The whale later beached in low tide at about 2330 BST on Thursday after experts had monitored it all day.
Window of opportunityWindow of opportunity
It is said to be a young adult and is thought to be about 3,000 miles (4,828 km) off course.It 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 on Friday.The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) resumed their operation at first light on Friday.
The whale was eventually placed on a pontoon, from which the creature was able to slip out into the water during a "window of opportunity" between 1030 and 1100 BST at high tide.The whale was eventually placed on a pontoon, from which the creature was able to slip out into the water during a "window of opportunity" between 1030 and 1100 BST at high tide.
Blood tests were also carried out to help assess its condition.Blood tests were also carried out to help assess its condition.
Rescuers used pontoons to free the whale from mudflats
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.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.
Rescuers used pontoons to free the whale from mudflats
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.
Mr Marsh said the tide had been coming in rapidly since dawn. He said rescuers were now trying to coax the whale back out into deeper waters in the Solent. Mr Marsh said the tide had been coming in rapidly since dawn and rescuers were now trying to coax the whale back out into deeper waters in the Solent.
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.
Dehydration fearDehydration fear
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 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.
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The whale beached overnight but was later freed at high tide