Whale euthanised after becoming stranded on Highland beach
The animal was spotted in distress at around 9.30am on Monday.
Last updated 2nd Jul 2025
A whale which stranded on a beach has been euthanised after it could not be refloated.
Rescuers went to the scene at Durness in Sutherland in northern Scotland when the creature was spotted in distress at around 9.30am on Monday.
Experts from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) tried to refloat the whale, a juvenile minke, at high tide at around midnight.
Coastguard teams from Durness, Kinlochbervie and Melness were also at the scene.
However the efforts were unsuccessful and the whale was euthanised, the coastguard said.