A PORPOISE injured by a boat propellor has died after washing up on a Somerset beach.
A crew of marine mammal medics from Burnham charity BARB Search & Rescue was called out on Saturday evening (April 14th) after a porpoise was spotted in distress in the sea.
BARB's crew and members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) were called to Burnham beach half a mile north of Burnham lighthouse just after 6.30pm.
A fisherman and a lady walking a dog had raised the alarm after spotting the distressed 1.2m female porpoise in shallow sea water.
BARB's marine mammal medics assessed the mammal and then safely moved it out of the water before keeping it calm and wet until a vet arrived.
It had suffered a serious injury to its left side and a further two injuries to its tail after apparently being struck by a boat propeller.
Mike Hayes from Blackrock Vet surgery, said: "The porpoise had sadly been injured in several places and suffered deep wounds. Putting it down was the only humane option."
BARB chairman, Mark Newman, said: "It was a very sad outcome for a beautiful creature. We thank those members of the public who raised the alarm in doing the right thing in getting help to the porpoise as quickly as possible."
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