These heartbreaking images show the desperate attempts made to rescue a whale, trapped in the Dee Estuary for three days, has died.
Fishermen, coastguard and marine experts have been battling since Friday to get the 40ft fin whale back into open waters but they confirmed the heartbreaking news this morning that the creature had died.
It had been zig zagging in shallow waters last night after spending much of the day beached.
But despite being back in the water, much of the damage had already been done after it spent several hours on the bank of the estuary on Saturday.
Experts feared that even if the creature managed to swim off, its chances of long term survival would be bleak, such was the trauma of its ordeal.
The exact cause of death has yet to be confirmed, but the whale was likely to have been gradually crushed by its own weight after spending several hours out of the water.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue said: "The fin whale restranded late last night on a sand bank near the Dee estuary mouth on the outgoing tide, but it was far too dangerous to send anyone out there to see if it was still alive.
"It has been found stranded once again this morning and a team from the Coastguard and a licensed drone pilot with permission to fly the area have been observing it from a distance.
"Sadly, though expected, there appear to be no signs of life left."
Fishermen, medics, coastguard teams and volunteers from the BDMLR have fought for three days to save the creature.
