Beached Whales: Warning to stay away from the “harrowing scene” in East Yorkshire | UK News

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Fears are growing for a pod of 10 sperm whales stranded off the East Yorkshire coast.

Members of the Coast Guard and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) were called to the beach between Tunstall and Withernsea at 8:30 am Thursday to help the mammals.

A group of four are believed to be still alive but in poor condition. However, no rescue operations are currently underway due to bad weather and rough seas.

A herd of 10 is trapped in shallow water.
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The herd has been stranded on a stretch of shoreline between the towns of Tunstall and Withernsea.

At least two of the animals have been washed up on the beach, where their chances of survival are slim.

A spokeswoman for BDMLR said: “The number of whales currently stranded is 10. They are in shallow waters and four have been confirmed still alive.”

“We believe it is a herd of young males, all in very poor nutritional condition. Due to current weather conditions and rough seas, our team will remain ashore watching from a safe distance.

“Due to the size of the sperm whale (males reach around 20 meters long and weigh up to 80 tons), it is not possible to move these animals once stranded, and due to their size, they rarely survive long once on land. .

The BDMLR said the North Sea is a difficult environment for sperm whales, as the shallow waters have few deep-sea squid that they typically feed on.

A spokeswoman for the Coast Guard and Maritime Agency said they had been called in by a member of the public who saw the whales off shore.

Photo from the sheet published by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) showing a group of whales stranded on a stretch of coastline between the towns of Tunstall and Withernsea in East Yorkshire.
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There is currently no rescue operation in progress due to bad weather

Police have warned the public to stay away.

Humberside Police Chief Superintendent Darren Downs said: “I understand the public interest in the incident, but I urge people to stay clear of the area to allow HM Coastguard crews to handle what is an extremely distressing scene.

“I would also like to remind people that there is a risk to themselves and others as crowds gather to witness the scene. The COVID-19 pandemic remains a high risk to public health, people should not gather. in groups because there is a danger of transmitting crowds. “

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