Fin whale Cornwall: 16-metre-long whale washes up on popular UK beach

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A 16-metre-long fin whale has washed up on Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall

A popular beach in Cornwall was cordoned off after a massive whale washed up on the shore. The 16m (50ft) fin whale was spotted on South Fistral Beach in Newquay at first light on Wednesday morning (November 15).

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Watersports teacher Rob Barber, from Newquay Activity Centre, saw the deceased whale while completing a routine ocean conditions check. Mr Barber, who has been a surfer and ocean user for the last 40 years, said the sighting was "sad" - and the team immediately alerted the relevant agencies.

A marine stranding agency told Mr Barber the whale was spotted swimming yesterday "looking out of sorts". He said: "Upon getting a bit nearer to the whale, it was measured to be 16 metres long - it's absolutely huge. It appeared to be bleeding from near the tail end, but we don't know why it died yet. It's so sad to see."

He said there has been a notable increase in sightings of these marine mammals around South Fistral beach over the past year and a half. He added: "Over the last 40 years of being an ocean user, it has never been common until the recent 18 months. There has been so many more sightings."

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Local agencies are working out what the next step is for the whale - whether it will be left to be naturally taken back into the ocean, or removed.

A 16-metre-long Fin Whale washed up on Fistral Beach, Newquay in Cornwall on November 15. (SWNS)A 16-metre-long Fin Whale washed up on Fistral Beach, Newquay in Cornwall on November 15. (SWNS)
A 16-metre-long Fin Whale washed up on Fistral Beach, Newquay in Cornwall on November 15. (SWNS) | Daniel Dayment / SWNS

Newquay Activity Centre, in an updated post on Facebook, has now advised the public to stay over 20ft away from the carcass as a safety measure. It explained: "There are organisms still living on the now deceased whale which it's important to keep distance from and the blood can be toxic. A decision will be made concerning if the tide will naturally move the body or other measures will be required. Very sad scenes."

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