Ruahn Beattie, NSRI Shelly Beach deputy station commander, said: At 17h54, Tuesday, 29 August, NSRI duty crew were activated following reports of a juvenile Humpback whale appearing to be beaching at St Michaels Beach, Shelly Beach, South Coast KZN (Kwa-Zulu Natal).
NSRI rescue swimmers responded and the KZN Marine Animal Stranding Network was alerted.
KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife rangers, KZN Marine Animal Stranding Network, Med-Evac ambulance services and Police Search and Rescue joined NSRI rescue swimmerrs on the scene where the whale had beached.
Tidy Towns community members also attended at the scene along with concerned public members.
After efforts to re-float the whale through the surf was not successful, with the whale continuing to return from the surf-line to beach, it was considered to launch an NSRI rescue craft to take the whale out to sea but authorities on the scene deemed the whale to be injured and not in good health and would not survive.
Marine authorities made the difficulty but humane decision the humanely euthanise the ill whale on the scene.
A Wolf security guard was arranged to guard the carcass during the night but at high tide the carcass washed out to sea.
The coastline is being monitored to see if the carcass washes ashore where it will be removed.

Shamrock
With enough thrust, pigs, can in fact fly
Martini Flower
India: You have two cows. You create a new country to banish all your people who might eat them.