Tragic History Of Whale Pod That Washed Up On Lincolnshire Coast

Four sperm whales that were found dead after they washed up on British beaches are thought to have been part of the same all-male group.

The huge mammals were found on beaches in Lincolnshire and Norfolk and experts think they are all part of a ‘bachelor pod’ that arrived here from the deeper parts of the North Sea.

Unable to feed in shallow waters, the whales couldn’t make their way back and died.

Tragic: The whales were found washed up on UK beaches (SWNS)

Mighty sight: Onlookers took photos of the 50ft-long whale (SWNS)

Another twelve male sperm whales were also found washed up last week on the coast of the Dutch island of Texel and German islands Wangerooge and Helgoland.

Post-mortems will now be carried out on the whales, who were travelling in pods that contained roughly 20, to determine exactly how they died.

On Friday, a 50ft-long whale was beached but still alive when it was found on rocks at Hunstanton in Norfolk.

Pod: It is believed the mammals were travelling together (SWNS)

Despite attempts by rescuers the 30-tonne mammal died on Saturday, while three more were also found washed up along the Lincolnshire coast on Sunday.

RNLI Skegness crewman Adam Holmes said: “It’s very sad to see such magnificent beasts washed up and passed their best on the shore.

"One whale very much the same washed up at Hunstanton on Saturday and we think these were the other whales spotted with it.

"They got into trouble in The Wash which is very shallow water and extremely difficult to navigate. Once they’re trapped in there there’s very little we can do.

Huge: The size of the carcass dwarfed human onlookers (SWNS)

Investigation: A post-mortem will now be carried out on the whales (SWNS)

"If they get washed out to sea then they can become a hazard for boats and then the Coastguard and Maritime Agency will get involved.”

The next move will be to remove the carcasses carefully as bacteria and gases build up inside the whales after they die - and they can explode if they are not cut open.

Whales were also found washed up at Skegness in October last year and in 2012.

Top pic: SWNS