Dead whale washes up on Old Hunstanton beach, with people urged to stay ‘well clear’ of it

Residents and visitors to the coast have been urged to stay “well clear” of a dead whale which has washed up on a West Norfolk beach.

The whale, believed to be a minke, has been seen on Old Hunstanton beach in recent days, and has started decomposing.

Officials from West Norfolk Council are now urging people not to get up close to the animal for safety reasons.

A spokeswoman said: “We know that many people are fascinated by seeing a whale close up but for a range of safety reasons we would urge people to stay well clear.

“We would especially urge people not to touch it and to keep their pets away, too.

“In this case we would also advise people to exercise caution in an area where the tides can cut people off before they have realised.”

It is the latest whale to wash up on our shores, after a 30ft bull calf died beneath Hunstanton’s cliffs in 2016, a juvenile fin whale died after becoming beached in the River Great Ouse in Lynn in 2018 and another was found on Heacham Beach in 2019.

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