Massive fin whale dies after washing ashore on Southern California beach

Beachgoers were stunned after a 40-foot whale washed ashore in Torrance Beach Saturday night.

The fin whale appeared to be very sick and in distress when it was spotted inside the surf line at around 6 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Crews from the Marine Mammal Care Center and the National Marine Fisheries Service were quickly dispatched to the scene. Animal rescue workers were hoping the tide will push the whale closer to shore since, due to its immense size, workers would not be able to move the mammal.

Later in the night, the whale was pronounced dead. The cause of death remains under investigation.

“This is a juvenile fin whale, about 40 feet in very poor body condition,” said John Warner from the Marine Mammal Care Center. “Stranding the fin whale here means the animal is compromised and sick. It took its last breath an hour ago.”

The fin whale is the second-largest whale species on earth, second only to the blue whale, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

“It’s still in the water and we can’t do anything until it’s out of the water,” Warner explained. “If it does come on the beach, we’ll hopefully be able to take some samples, do a necropsy and learn what happened to this animal in service to helping future animals that are not sick yet.”

Crews worked to cordon off the beach to visitors who remained on shore. Workers said that after testing, it would be moved back out to the sea.

“Due to its size and location, it is expected that the whale will remain on the beach while responders create a plan to remove it,” L.A. County Fire Department crews said. “If you are in the area, please give the animal and responders plenty of space to work!”