An injured porpoise that was rescued after being washed up on Brean beach on Thursday (June 13th) has died of its injuries.
Volunteers from Secretworld and BARB were called to the beach at 4pm after the 1.4m-long mammal was spotted by a walker in a rock pool next to Brean Down.
Carers wrapped the young porpoise – which has an injury on its side – in a protective blanket, as pictured here, and then carried it up the beach on a stretcher to a van.
It was taken to Secretworld in East Huntspill, pictured right, where carers and experts from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity looked after it.
But the injured mammal was put down by a vet late on Thursday night when its injuries were judges to be too severe.
Secretworld’s Simon Kidner told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This was the first porpoise we have rescued on these local beaches. Sadly, he ws not in a good shape.”
“He had a wound on one side and the prognosis was not promising. He seemed underweight and had an infection.”
“He got the very best treatment possible but the nature of his injuries meant a decision was taken by the vet to put him down.”
The group of holidaymakers who found the mammal were praised for their role in keeping the porpoise alive on the beach.
“The people that found him did a super job, keeping him wet and wrapping him in seaweed until we arrived.”
BARB’s hovercraft crew were called to the scene by the beach warden as a precaution due to the deep mud and soft sand in the area.
Pictured: The scenes on the beach on Thursday afternoon
The injured porpoise being carried on a stretcher up the beach
The injured mammal pictured at Secretworld
A hovercraft and crew from BARB was also called to the beach to help
