Trapped whale dies after becoming stranded

A pygmy sperm whale has died after becoming trapped in waters off Williamstown, Victoria.

A local fisherman first spotted the mammal in the shallows around Koroit Creek about 1.30pm today.

Fisheries officers and DELWP representatives arrived at the scene soon after, and worked for hours to save the 2.4-metre female whale.

But their efforts were unsuccessful and it has since been euthanised, the Herald Sun reports.

Earlier DELWP spokesman Shane Vandenborn said the whale’s condition had “rapidly deteriorated”.

“The onsite crew has attempted to take the whale into deeper waters, but it was unable to swim unaided and was listing to one side,” Mr Vanderborn said.

He added the animal had minor abrasions but that “did not explain” why it became beached.

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