Stranded whale near Coffs Harbour beach euthanised

UPDATE: A juvenile humpback whale that has been beached on the NSW mid north coast for more than a day has been euthanised after its condition worsened.

A JUVENILE humpback whale that has been beached on the NSW mid north coast for more than a day has been euthanised after its condition worsened.

“It’s been a very, very difficult afternoon for everybody involved,” marine rescue organisation ORRCA vice president Shona Lorigan said from Sawtell Beach, south of Coffs Harbour.

A juvenile male whale has been put down after attempts to rescue it failed at Sawtell beach. Picture: Bruce Thomas Photography

Ms Lorigan confirmed the young whale, weighing about 10 tonnes, was put down about 1pm.

It was first spotted by beachgoers early on Friday but rough sea conditions hindered rescue attempts.

“Mother nature’s not helped us today, the waves are getting bigger as I watch,” Ms Lorigan said.

“We had no hope of getting boats in until at least Monday.”

She said experts had been monitoring the whale overnight and saw its health deteriorating.

“We really had to think of the welfare of the whale and we didn’t want it to suffer any longer,” she said.

Rescuers look on helplessly as the whale remained stranded earlier today. Pictures: Bruce Thomas Photography

The yearling whale was likely making its first migration from Antarctica to Queensland after being weaned, she said.

“It’s quite a long and arduous journey,” she said.

“If an animal is in poor health or if it’s weaker then the time it will get into trouble is when it’s making that huge journey.”

The “really tough decision” was made to euthanise the whale, a spokeswoman from the Office of Environment and Heritage said.

She said a large group of marine mammal experts have assessed the situation and made the call after rough sea conditions hindered rescue attempts.

“Everything’s been against this poor thing,” the spokeswoman said.

Weather hampered the efforts of save the whale, which has died. Picture: Bruce Thomas Photography

Arrangements are being made for the whale to be taken off the beach and buried.

The whale was being monitored by wildlife experts from NPWS, marine mammal rescue group ORRCA, Gold Coast SeaWorld and Dolphin Marine Magic at Coffs Harbour.

As a subadult it may be the first time this humpback has made the migration northward, and there have been some big seas, the NPWS said.

It said up to 30,000 whales were estimated to be migrating north this season.

PICTURES FROM YESTERDAY

Rescuers try to keep the humpback whale safe at Sawtell Beach, south of Coffs Harbour. Picture: NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

Still stranded ... the beached whale at Sawtell Beach. Picture: Judd Findlay

The humpback whale stranded on Sawtell Beach endured a tough night. Picture: Judd Findlay