A huge, 50ft long sperm whale died after getting entangled in fishing gear.
The giant mammal was found covered in ropes just days after it was freed by rescuers.
But shortly after the netting was cut away, the whale took “one more noticeable breath” before passing away.
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The rope is believed to have restricted its ability to feed.
The whale was found near the Isle of Raasay in the Hebrides, Scotland, as reported by What’s The Jam.
It is the latest in a series of fishing entanglements, a spokesperson for British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said.
“On Monday BDMLR received a report of a sperm whale very close to shore at Raasay Island,” they said.
“With some ropes wrapped around the whale, it was believed to be the same animal that our LWDT attended to at the weekend.
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“We received footage showing the whale grounded in the shallows still breathing but stationary.
“As the tide receded, the whale was pushed onto its side and was almost completely stranded at low tide.
“This revealed the extent of the rest of the entanglement which wrapped around the whale’s lower jaw and again around its head.
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“Whilst our Marine Mammal Medics were dispatched and on their way to the island, a well-meaning member of the public cut away the ropes in order to relieve the whale that at this point was still breathing.
“It was hoped the whale would refloat itself as the tide rushed back in around it, but sadly after being disentangled it only took one more noticeable breath.
“When our Medics arrived, they monitored for a while to confirm whether the whale was still alive or not (sperm whales can hold their breath for up to two hours), but the lack of movement as the tide drew further in suggested that the whale had passed away.
“As the rope was tightly wrapped around its mouth restricting its ability to feed, the whale may have been malnourished for some time.”
The spokesperson said this entanglement was the fourth incident of this type BDMLR had responded to in three months, however each was “very different and unconnected”.
The spokesperson added: “The Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme along with the Scottish Entanglement Alliance will attempt to attend the body dependent on weather conditions and ferry timetables to take samples and assess the cause of death further.
“We’d like to thank the local residents of Raasay Island who kept an eye on the whale until we were able to attend, and of course our Marine Mammal Medics for their assistance and dedication to this incident.”
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