Pilot whale found dead at Canvey Island as search for Thames pod continues
Rescuers are still searching for the rest of the pod off the Essex coast
A pilot whale that swam into the River Thames has been found dead on the Essex coast.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue said the whale had separated from the main pod during an effort to herd the animals out to sea, and appeared to be in distress.
It briefly stranded alive at Canvey Island on the evening of Saturday, before being washed back out again before medics could reach it.
Shoreline searches failed to find it again before dark.
On Sunday morning, working with the local Coastguard team, rescuers found the whale ashore and confirmed it had died.
It was a female measuring 4.5 metres.
BDMLR said it is working with the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, which is aiming to recover the whale for a post mortem examination.
The charity said these examinations provide useful information about an animal's health, genetics and nutrition, and help build knowledge of the species.
It added the findings inform the development of evidence-based live stranding response protocols for organisations around the world.
Searches are continuing for the rest of the pod, using Civil Air Support, with rescuers hoping the whales have moved out into the North Sea.
The situation began on Thursday, when BDMLR responded to reports of long-finned pilot whales swimming in the River Thames.
Long-finned pilot whales typically favour cooler waters offshore in the Atlantic Ocean, and their presence in the Thames and southern North Sea is described as highly unusual.
On Saturday, a co-ordinated effort involving the Port of London Authority and BDMLR began at Gravesend at 7am, with a flotilla of boats slowly encouraging the pod to swim eastwards.
After a six-hour journey covering more than 20 nautical miles, the pod reached the outer limits of the Thames Estuary, near Red Sand Towers.
An earlier death was also confirmed, with a female whale measuring around 3 metres found near East Tilbury.
BDMLR said it is possible that a debilitated member of the pod is the reason the animals came into the estuary.
The charity has reminded people not to approach the whales by boat or aircraft, including drones, as this may cause additional stress.
Anyone who sees the whales is asked to report the sighting to the BDMLR rescue hotline on 01825 765546, providing their location, direction of travel and any notable behaviour.
Cetaceans are protected by law in the UK from intentional or reckless disturbance under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.