SEA TRAGEDY
More than 70 whales wash up on Scots beach in ‘biggest mass stranding in decades’
Medics who rushed to help have said it is 'really quite horrible' and 'hugely emotional' scene
AN entire pod of almost 80 whales died after washing ashore on a beach - the biggest tragedy of its kind in decades.
Marine rescuers were called to the scene at Tresness Beach on the island of Sanday in Orkney this morning.
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They received reports that dozens of the mammals were out of the water on the shore at around 10.45am.
Specialist equipment and more volunteers were scrambled from the mainland.
Initial reports suggested there were between 60 and 70 long-finned pilot whales found on the beach.
However, medics soon discovered there are up to 100 of the large creatures with an estimated number of 77.
Crews are frantically working to identify which of the mammals are still alive to save them.
Twelve initially survived but have since been euthanised.
There are whales everywhere. There’s a long line of them, some of them are still alive... We will do our utmost best
Emma Neave-Webb
Some of the whales found on the beach measure up to seven meters (22ft) long.
It is currently unclear what caused the mass stranding.
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However, it is thought that one of the whales got into difficulty and the rest of the pod swam to help.
Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) has now launched a post-mortem investigation into the tragic deaths.
Massive whale washes up on Scots coast after getting STRANDED as public urged to ‘stay away’
The public has been urged to avoid the area as crews deal with the incident.
A statement from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said: "On 11 July 2024 at about 10:45am, British Divers Marine Life Rescue received a report of a mass stranding of up to 100 long-finned pilot whales on the isle of Sanday in Orkney.
"BDMLR’s regional team was immediately mobilised with response equipment to make their way over to the island, whilst we waited for more information on the situation from the small number of Medics already on Sanday that were on their way to the scene.
"On arrival, the Medics found there to be about 77 animals high up the beach, having evidently been stranded for several hours already.
Our team continues to work hard to manage this incredibly difficult situation and further updates will be given as the incident progresses
Statement from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue
"Sadly, only 12 of them are still alive at this point.
"With the very limited resources and people immediately available, health assessments and first aid were provided to the surviving animals as the incoming tide approaches them.
"Our team continues to work hard to manage this incredibly difficult situation and further updates will be given as the incident progresses.
"Colleagues from the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme are also on their way to begin post-mortem investigation."
'BIGGEST EVER' MASS STRANDING
THE tragic incident could be the biggest-ever mass stranding in Scotland in the last 30 years since SMASS was first founded in 1995.
In July last year, 55 pilot whales died after a mass stranding at Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis.
By the time crews arrived to help, only 15 were still alive.
Out of these, just one whale was successfully re-floated and the remaining 14 had to be euthanised.
The largest stranding ever recorded in the UK happened in 1927 in the Highlands when 130 false killer whales were discovered in the Dornoch Firth.
At the time, 126 of the whales died.
Emma Neave-Webb, from BDMLR, told it is a "really quite horrible" and "hugely emotional" scene in Sanday.
She added: "There are whales everywhere. There’s a long line of them, some of them are still alive.
"We will do our utmost best obviously but they have been here for quite some time so I think we have to be slightly pragmatic about it".
Locals have flocked to social media after being left upset by the tragic news.
One person said: "Thinking of all the medics attending this very hard stranding".
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Another added: "Oh how awful!"
While a third wrote: "So sad".