Seventh whale stranded in shallow water off Norfolk coastline

Laura Hodgetts
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A seventh whale has been reported in difficulty in shallow water off the coast of Mundesley, Norfolk.

A member of the Mundesley Coastguard Rescue Team contacted the UK Coastguard just after 10am this morning to report the whale was 300-400 yards off shore.

The whale was reported to be alive and thrashing about in the shallow water.

It follows a series of whale deaths along the East coast of England in the past few weeks, including a Bull sperm whale and a large sperm whale that beached themselves on Hunstanton Beach, Norfolk on 22 January and 4 February, three whales found dead on a beach near Skegness, Lincolnshire and another whale that washed up near Wainfleet, Lincolnshire on 25 January.

They are all believed to be from the same pod.

UK Coastguard has alerted Happisburgh and Mundesley Coastguard Rescue Teams who are currently on the shoreline keeping a watchful eye over the position of the latest whale.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue, the Zoological Society of London, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Receiver of Wreck and the local council have also been informed.

UK Coastguard Mike Puplett said:  ‘We are advising people to keep at a safe distance from the whale, so we do not cause any further distress to it.  We are doing all we can to assist the authorities and allow those with rescue experience to do their work.’