Whales on UK beach 'could explode at any moment' as public warned to stay away

14 March 2024 , 16:48

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One of the whales washed up on UK shores (Image: BETHAN CLYNE/BDMLR)

Beachgoers have been warned to stay away from the dead bodies of three giant whales washed ashore from the North Sea over fears that the marine animals could explode.

The carcasses of two sperm whales are stranded on the banks of the Humber Estuary near Spurn Point in East Yorkshire, while another is lying on Humberston Fitties beach in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire.

The unusual sights are attracting the attention of curious walkers in the areas but they have been advised to keep a safe distance in case they end up covered in tonnes of entrails. It is thought that toxic gasses will be building up onside the whales' bodies and as the corpses expand like balloons, the slightest touch could set them off like powder kegs.

On top of the risk of explosion, there are deadly mudflats around the giant mammals' carcasses. British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said conditions around the whales were 'extremely dangerous'. Mud and reed beds are making the whales inaccessible and BDMLR is urging caution.

In a statement, it said: "Network signal is poor and if anyone got in difficulty it puts strain on rescue agencies if they are having to save members of public from the mud, which could be avoided. Relevant agencies are aware of the whales' location and we trust that the general public will remain safe and sensible. It is not known at this time what the cause of death is or factors that may have influenced the stranding.

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"It is nonetheless sad to see. Sperm whales are a deep diving species that struggle to feed in the relatively shallow North Sea." Adult sperm whales can grow to 60ft in length and weigh almost 50 tonnes.

‌Last year, a group of whale watchers captured the actual moment a dead whale exploded, spewing blood and innards about about as they could only look on in horror. The boaters were on a trip in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, when they stumbled across what was believed to be a lifeless humpback.

As they watched and filmed, the whale's front end ruptured, spewing blood everywhere. Then its guts started spilling out, beginning with the spleen and a couple of other massive organs before its intestines followed, snaking out into the open water, squelching as they shot out from the carcass.

The gruesome video was eventually reposted on the nature account Nature is Metal on Instagram, who claimed that the explosion was due to a build-up of methane gas caused by bacteria feasting on the decaying internal organs. The gas pressurised the creature's innards before eventually causing the explosion as it sought release from the thick, blubbery skin and muscle tissue.

Steven White