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Dead whale is washed up on coast Dead whale is washed up on coast
(about 2 hours later)
A dead whale thought to have been stranded in the Bristol Channel has been washed up on a south Wales beach.A dead whale thought to have been stranded in the Bristol Channel has been washed up on a south Wales beach.
The 33ft (10m) minke whale has ended up at the Knap in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.The 33ft (10m) minke whale has ended up at the Knap in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.
The whale is believed to have been initially sighted off Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, on Monday and rescuers tried unsuccessfully to tow it out to sea.The whale is believed to have been initially sighted off Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, on Monday and rescuers tried unsuccessfully to tow it out to sea.
The Vale of Glamorgan council is dealing with the incident. Barry Coastguard team are also at the scene.The Vale of Glamorgan council is dealing with the incident. Barry Coastguard team are also at the scene.
Dave Wall, chief rescue officer with Swansea Coastguard, said: "It has clearly been dead for some days at least. This sort of thing does happen from time to time.Dave Wall, chief rescue officer with Swansea Coastguard, said: "It has clearly been dead for some days at least. This sort of thing does happen from time to time.
"There have been reports of a dead whale in the sea here for some time.""There have been reports of a dead whale in the sea here for some time."
Water-bikers Derek Jones and his 12-year-old son Sean, from Bristol, spotted the mammal still alive in the estuary at about 1700 BST on Monday.Water-bikers Derek Jones and his 12-year-old son Sean, from Bristol, spotted the mammal still alive in the estuary at about 1700 BST on Monday.
Coastguards say the whale has been dead for some days
They unsuccessfully tried to tow it back out to sea with a rope attached to their water bike.They unsuccessfully tried to tow it back out to sea with a rope attached to their water bike.
Mark Simmonds, science director at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, said: "Assuming it is indeed a minke whale, they are fairly commonly seen close to the shore around the UK, but more so in the north rather than the south.Mark Simmonds, science director at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, said: "Assuming it is indeed a minke whale, they are fairly commonly seen close to the shore around the UK, but more so in the north rather than the south.
"The minke whale is the smallest of the filter feeding whales that we often see in the UK."The minke whale is the smallest of the filter feeding whales that we often see in the UK.
"When whales are sick or wounded they might come ashore and the size of this whale is quite large.""When whales are sick or wounded they might come ashore and the size of this whale is quite large."
He said he was sure the father and son meant well, "but towing it is not ideal as it could cause more harm - you should always call the experts."He said he was sure the father and son meant well, "but towing it is not ideal as it could cause more harm - you should always call the experts."