THE ISLE of Wight Council has warned the public to keep away from the dead pilot whale at a West Wight beach on health and safety grounds — unable to recover it at present.

The young whale had to be put down this afternoon (Saturday, October 5), after it struggled with its balance and injuries from being washed up at a West Wight beach, near Brook, early this morning. 

After multiple attempts to rescue it by coastguard rescue teams, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue group and members of the public, the difficult decision was taken by a vet to put the mammal to sleep.

The Isle of Wight Council's waste service is arranging the specialist collection of the whale, via a pet and equine crematorium, and is due to take the carcass to a licenced storage facility in the meantime, so an group which investigates why whales, dolphins and porpoises die, can collect it early next week to carry out an autopsy.

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However, recovering the whale is proving more difficult than expected.

The authority said: "Due to complications around the high tide, the council’s recovery team has been unable to recover the pilot whale, discovered on a West Wight beach earlier today.

"Recovery will be reattempted at low tide tomorrow morning (Sunday, October 6).

"At this time, we ask all members of the public to stay well away from the area, in the interest of health and safety."