The female Sowerby’s beaked whale was discovered stranded on the mudflats of Snettisham beach on August 6.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) called the incident “heartbreaking” and said: “Initially reported as a dolphin, BDMLR tasked Medics to respond with rescue equipment.
“On arrival, however, they found a much larger and far rarer individual.
“Tragically, despite the swift response from Medics and Coastguard officers, the whale passed away shortly after they arrived.
The whale became stranded on the beach on Tuesday (Image: BDMLR, Matt Curtis)
(Image: BDMLR/ Matt Curtis)“These types of strandings are rare, but serve as a reminder of the hidden lives in our oceans.”
Sowerby’s beaked whales are a deep-diving species that live in offshore waters. They can dive hundreds of metres to feed on their favourite prey, squid, and reach weights of 1,300kg.
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Samples have been taken from the whale to help determine the cause of death.
In the meantime, members of the public are advised to keep a safe distance from the carcass and avoid touching it or letting pets near it due to the risk of disease.
Hunstanton Coastguard Rescue Team also attended the scene.
A spokesman said: “Bystanders reported that they had tried to help the mammal back into the sea.
A medic examines the whale (Image: Hunstanton Coastguard) “Having requested en route the attendance of British Divers Marine Life Rescue, we were soon joined by three of their members.
“They quickly ascertained that the whale was in fact dead.”
The whale was measured, examined for injuries and recorded under the historic ‘Fishes Royal’ protocol, where data from stranded cetaceans is submitted for scientific research.
It is not the first such stranding in the region, similar whales were found in Lowestoft in 2020 and Thornham in 2011.
Anyone who spots a stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise should call BDMLR on 01825 765546.