Sperm whale goes splat in crane mishap

It was an ignoble end for such a majestic creature of the sea.

The moment 25 tonnes of rotting whale carcass crushed a truck with a gut-wrenching splat has been caught on camera in Uruguay.

The 16m sperm whale was found washed up on a beach in Carrasco, in Montevideo, and hauled ashore to be taken away on the back of a semi-trailer.

Hundreds of onlookers gathered to witness the giant mammal craned off the beach – a spectacle as much for the nose as for eyes, according to witnesses.

But video shot by one bystander reveals a gory mishap as the whale was lifted onto the trailer.

Suspended in the air, the ropes appear to suddenly let go, sending the distended carcass into freefall.

And then comes the splat; a big, sickening splat.

The truck can be seen buckling under the sudden weight as the whale splits apart.

The trailer appears to have survived the impact as the whale was later hauled away to be buried, with the whole operation said to have cost $20,000.

Sources: Live Leak, Sky News
Author: Matthew Henry. Approving editor: Simon Black.