A whale has washed up on a beach with coastguard and marine rescues teams working to keep it safe.

The northern bottlenose whale washed up onto the East Beach near Littlehampton this afternoon with teams covering the animal with towels and pouring water onto it.

The whale, who is believed to be male, is still being looked after on the beach by a team from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

The Argus: Whale on Littlehampton beachWhale on Littlehampton beach (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: “The Coastguard Rescue Team from Littlehampton is supporting the response to a northern bottlenose whale washed up on East Beach at Littlehampton today.


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“The alarm was raised at about 1.30pm and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue are in attendance.”

The Argus: Whale on Littlehampton beachWhale on Littlehampton beach (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

While the whale is still alive, injuries appear to be visible on its tail and near its eye.

Onlookers watched as teams from the coastguard worked to keep the beached whale comfortable and covered it with towels and poured water from buckets onto it.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue were also approached for comment.