Dead suspected whale found on Blackhall Beach, County Durham

Arthur Tait, from Hartlepool, who was out for his routine stroll, said his dog alerted him to the presence of the mammal during a walk along the beach.

Upon closer inspection, he realised the animal had died and notified Durham County Council due to the size of the marine mammal, fearing it could pose an environmental concern if not properly handled.

The suspected mammal laid on Blackhall Beach (Image: Arthur Hill) The creature, approximately ten feet long, was located about 100 metres from the main viewing point, heading towards Peterlee.

Arthur said: "I let my dog off the lead, and he wandered quite a distance from me. I called him three times, but it seemed like he had suddenly developed selective hearing.

"When I looked over, I thought Khan (his Tibetan Mastiff dog) was rubbing himself on a boulder, but as I got closer, I realised it was a dead animal. It was a bit of a shock, and unfortunately, there was a very unpleasant smell."

He added: "I put my dog back on his lead and returned home. I called the council because a large decaying corpse like that could pose an environmental problem. It's a shame the animal has died. I’d estimate its weight to be about half a tonne, and it to be around 10 feet long.

Whales are not commonly seen along this part of the coastline, but they do sometimes wash ashore, either driven by strong tides or after falling ill.

The washed up deceased mammal on Blackhall Beach (Image: Arthur Hill) Arthur added: "Hopefully, the authorities who handle deceased mammals will take care of this poor creature."

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The exact cause of the whale’s death remains unknown at this stage, as authorities are expected to take further steps to assess the situation.

This follows another small whale found on a beach in Hartlepool last month.

The Environment Agency have said that dead or stranded whales should be reported to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) by calling their hotline on 0800 652 0333 and advised that the animal should not be touched.