Young bottlenose whale found dead on Flimby beach, Cumbria; Coastguard urges people to keep away

Mixed · 2A juvenile northern bottlenose whale was found dead on Flimby beach in Cumbria on Saturday 24 October, after Storm Austen and Storm Boelo battered the UK. 1 2 Left · 1Maryport Coastguard Rescue Team attended and found the animal had already died. 2 Mixed · 2The Coastguard urged people not to touch the carcass, saying it "may have toxins that can pass to humans", and to take care near the water because Storm Boelo was "still going strong". 1 2

Mixed · 2It asked people to report any stranded whale as soon as possible, even if it may be dead, to keep clear and wait for help, adding that "Gathering round the animal will intensify their distress, and it is possible for disease to be passed to humans." 1 2 Mixed · 2Northern bottlenose whales live mainly in the deep North Atlantic and can dive to more than 1,400m (4,593ft) and stay under for up to two hours, according to the charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation (cited by the BBC). 1 2 Left · 1The Mirror adds that rescuers took measurements when it was safe to approach and passed the details to their operations room in Belfast, and that British Divers Marine Life Rescue warns against pushing a live whale back into the water, as it may be ill or too weak and need treatment first. 2

Left · 1The Mirror also reports that an amber wind warning covered parts of Cumbria, including areas around Carlisle and Whitehaven, with gusts of 60 to 70mph and up to 80mph possible on exposed coasts, and that flood warnings along the coast around Flimby, Maryport, Workington and Whitehaven were removed on Sunday morning. 2