Hopes fade for minke whale stuck in River Thames near London

Four-metre calf is very, very lost, says Port of London Authority

Hopes faded on Monday for a young minke whale that became trapped in the River Thames near London, authorities said.

Rescuers trying to capture the whale said that by 5pm its condition had deteriorated rapidly and it would soon be stranded by the dropping tide near Teddington, in south-west London.

“Once the whale is beached a veterinary team will be on stand by to euthanise the animal to end its suffering,” the British Divers Marine Life Rescue said.

The group said the injured and exhausted calf would struggle to swim even if it made it back into deeper water.

Crews worked for hours before being able to free the whale early on Monday after it was stranded in a lock near Richmond, a few kilometres downstream of Teddington.

But as the mammal was being taken for further health checks on an inflatable pontoon, it slipped back into the water.

“This animal is very, very lost,” Port of London Authority spokesman Martin Garside said. “It’s like seeing a camel at the North Pole.”

Mr Garside said a whale had never been seen that far up the Thames, 150 kilometres along the river from its mouth.

The distance made the creature’s route back to safety extremely difficult.

The whale, which measured about four metres long, was first seen lying on the lock’s boat rollers on Sunday night.

Hundreds of people gathered along the banks of the Thames to watch the rescue operation as night fell.

The area is known for wide tidal swings of more than 5.5 metres.

Port staff were joined by firefighters, coastguard members and marine animal rescue divers.

Minke whales, which are more typically found in the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, can grow to nine metres.

Last September, The National explained how whales can be stranded so far from home.

People look at the three-metre minke whale calf that was found injured and beached on concrete, at Richmond Lock, in the River Thames, London. Reuters

The minke whale swims by Teddington Lock in south-west London. AFP

People gather on the banks of the River Thames hoping to catch a glimpse of the whale. Reuters

The whale swims by Teddington Lock. AFP

The cetacean was found on Sunday injured and beached on concrete by the river in west London. Reuters

A Royal National Lifeboat Institution boat monitors the young minke near Teddington Lock. AFP

People on a bridge over the Thames trying to see the whale swimming past. Reuters