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Two pilot whales dead after mass stranding - Published Two pilot whales have died after a distressed pod was spotted off the Northumberland coast. British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said it had been alerted to a group of about 40 whales near to the shore at Amble at 15:00 BST on Sunday. It said the whales had been "behaving in a distressed manner typically seen prior to a stranding event". Due to the tides, attempts to refloat the animals had been unsuccessful, the charity said, and rescue teams were forced to withdraw. Whales are highly social mammals and are well known for stranding in groups because they travel in large, close-knit communities which rely on constant communication. There are a range of theories for why beachings occur. Some experts say the animals can become disorientated after following fish they hunt to the shore. Others believe that one individual can mistakenly lead whole groups to shore. Limited access The BDMLR said it was not the same pod of whales which was herded out of the River Thames at the weekend as the distance between the locations was further than the species could swim in 24 hours. Local boats were launched with medics on board to try to herd the whales offshore to stop them from stranding. But the animals remained tightly packed around one of the largest, which was lying motionless on its side. The teams were stood down after losing the light on Sunday. Earlier on Monday, the BDMLR said about a dozen had been stranded on Coquet Island around rocky terrain. On investigation, six animals were found - five ashore and one afloat. Two of the stranded whales were confirmed to have died, the BDMLR said. Due to the tides and limited access to the island, attempts to refloat the live animals were not possible and the teams withdrew once again. The BDMLR said it would remain along the coast, ready to provide care and attempt to refloat those which were healthy enough. The RSPB said its staff from nearby Coquet Island were continuing to support the BDMLR's response to the incident. "This is a distressing situation and our thoughts are with all those involved in the response," a spokesperson said. Follow BBC North East on X, external, Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external and listen to Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds. Get in touch Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Tyne? Related topics Related stories - Published18 hours ago - Published20 August 2025 - Published6 March
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