Stranded whale dies in Napier

NZPA

TOO LATE: A rare beaked whale strands and dies off Harding Road, Napier.

A Napier woman has described how she and several others struggled to push a stranded whale out to sea as it thrashed itself to pieces on sharp rocks lining the shore.

Gabby Evans was walking along Hardinge Road, Ahuriri, on her way to work around 7.45am today when she spotted the whale about 70 metres from land.

The water was shallow and the whale, believed to be a species of beaked whale, was stuck on sharp rocks.

Ms Evans rushed into the water and waded out towards the stranded beast.

She said the whale's struggles had inflicted a number of wounds, severing a fin and turning the water red with blood.

"It was horrific, really."

Several locals joined her as emergency services and the Department of Conservation were called.

They struggled to push the whale, which one firefighter estimated to weigh up to two tonnes, out to sea. They succeeded briefly but the rough conditions quickly saw it cast back on to the rocks.

Ms Evans said it was difficult to manoeuvre the creature and they were warned to stay clear of the tail which could have crushed them.

She said DOC staff with proper equipment did not arrive until about 90 minutes after the call went out, by which time the whale had stopped moving, stopped crying out, and "was just a lump".

"(It) was in bits. It was pretty much dead."

Ms Evans said while the experience was dangerous, it was also moving.

A crowd had gathered to watch and children were writing messages in the sand.

"It was an honour, but it was also very sad."

She said DOC staff planned to remove the body to conduct a post mortem.

- NZPA