A whale which swam up the river to King's Lynn has died.
The young fin whale was first seen in the Great Ouse in the town yesterday morning. The 15ft calf had deep gashes in its back and sides.
It was carried out as far as the Babingley infall as the tide in the river went out.
But it was brought back into town during the early evening when the tide came back in again, and sighted today along various areas of the waterfront.
Experts from British Divers Marine Life Rescue have been keeping the animal under observation. This afternoon, they confirmed it had died.
BDMLR spokesman Julia Cable said: 'The whale was stranding so many times it's possible it ran out of energy and may have drowned.'
Its carcass has come to rest on the West Lynn bank of the river.
It is lying in a culvert, which joins the main river opposite Common Staithe Quay and the Custom House.
A small crowd has gathered to see the creature. Hairdresser Sarah Buhlemann, from West Lynn, said: 'It's not very often you see a whale down here.
'It's a bit morbid but it's been the talk at the hairdresser's all day. It's a once in a lifetime experience.'
Police and the Environment Agency are surveying the scene.
Insp Mark Askham of King's Lynn police, said: 'We're devising a plan for extraction and the EA are the lead on this.'
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