Beached whale at centre of rescue effort

The northern bottlenose whale became stranded on mudflats at Hayling Island in Hampshire after getting lost.

Firefighters are pumping water over the six-ton animal - a young adult - in attempt to prevent its skin drying out.

Vets will carry out an examination to establish its chances of survival.

If they rule out putting the whale down, rescuers could roll it onto a mat attached to inflatable pontoons on either side.

When the tide comes back in it would lift the device, allowing rescuers a degree of control over the 26 ft-long whale.

Boats could then tow it 10 miles south of the Isle of Wight before its release.

The whale is the same species as the one which died after becoming stranded in the Thames two years ago. They are deep water mammals found off the Bay of Biscay.