Fifteen people have been trying to save the whale, including staff from Doc, Dive Otago and members of the public. Photo by Hamish MacLean
The Department of Conservation has euthanised a whale stranded on the beach beside SH1 on the Katiki Straight, north of Shag Point.
Jim Fyfe, from the Department of Conservation, said tourists called for help when they saw the 4m female pilot whale beached at 9.30am this morning.
Fifteen people had since been trying to save the whale, including staff from Doc, Dive Otago and members of the public.
During the day she was refloated beyond the breakers twice using an inflatable dinghy, but beached herself again.
The whale was euthanised about 3.30pm.
