Whale Dies During Thames Rescue

A whale that swam up the River Thames into central London, England, has died while on a barge used by rescuers to return it to the wild.
At about 7pm (1900 GMT) the animal had convulsions and died.

The London whale tragically died last night, ending a rescue drama that had gripped the world. His heart gave out as he was being transported back to the open sea, in calling distance of his mother who was believed to be waiting for her baby in the English Channel. Rescue organiser Tony Woodley said: "Just before 7pm the whale had a convulsion and died. It is a dreadful shame."

There was euphoria when he was successfully winched on to a barge for the first stage of a journey out to open sea. But at 5pm RSPCA vets giving Wally antibiotics and monitoring his heart revealed he was having trouble breathing.

With the creature suffering increasing levels of stress, experts took the decision to keep the barge sailing until 9pm then decide whether Wally could be released somewhere off the Kent coast and take the risk that he may head back up river. Sadly, the decision was taken out of their hands by Wally himself.