A whale has been freed after it became stranded along the River Thames in south-west London on Sunday evening.
Hundreds gathered at Richmond Lock and Weir after the whale, believed to be a Minke and between three to four metres long, became stuck on the lock’s boat rollers about 7.30pm.
The whale would have had to swim through central London to end up in Richmond.
Videos showed it being hosed down by a man believed to be a Port of London Authority (PLA) staff member, while a vet performed a check-up at the river’s edge, before the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) arrived at the scene to the cheers of onlookers around 9pm.
Fire crews were also at the scene, along with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue service.
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Footage posted from the scene showed the whale finally being freed about 1am.
Whale in the River Thames – In Pictures
Rescue personnel work to save a small whale stranded in the River Thames in this picture obtained via social media, in London
via REUTERS
Rescue personnel work to save a small whale stranded in the River Thames in this picture obtained via social media, in London
via REUTERS
Rescue personnel work to save a small whale stranded in the River Thames in this picture obtained via social media, in London
via REUTERS
Rescue personnel work to save a small whale stranded in the River Thames in this picture obtained via social media, in London
via REUTERS
A small whale stranded in the River Thames is seen in this picture obtained from social media in London, Britain
via REUTERS
A small whale is seen stranded in the River Thames in this picture obtained via social media, in London, Britain
via REUTERS
A small whale stranded in the River Thames is seen in this picture obtained from social media in London, Britain
via REUTERS
A small whale stranded in the River Thames is seen in this picture obtained from social media in London, Britain
via REUTERS
Whale stranded at Richmond Lock and Weir
PA
Whale stranded at Richmond Lock and Weir
PA
Whale stranded at Richmond Lock and Weir
PA
Glen Nicolaides from London Fire Brigade told the BBC the whale had been moved to a more “stable” location where it would be assessed to determine the scale of its injuries and whether it could be released.
Earlier, a witness said “quite the crowd” watched as the attempted rescue took place.
Jake Manketo, 20, from Richmond, said: “Everyone here is just hoping they get it out.
“We couldn’t believe our eyes when we first saw the poor fella, not every day something like this happens in Richmond.”
It is believed the whale was first spotted at midday a few miles up the river near Barnes Bridge.
A spokesman for the Port of London Authority, which owns and operates the lock, said: “At around 7pm on Sunday, a small whale, approximately 3-4m long, believed to be a Minke whale, became stranded at Richmond Lock and Weir.
“PLA staff have attempted to assist the whale with water along with British Divers Marine Life Rescue.”
Krishna Mistry
Minke whales are the smallest of the great whales, growing to about 10m.
They can usually be found throughout the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Their range extends from the ice edge in the Arctic during the summer to near the equator during winter.
The lock is situated between Teddington and Richmond, comprising of three vertical steel gates suspended from a footbridge.