Beached whale put down by police

A pilot whale has been put down by police after repeatedly beaching itself in Wellington.

The whale was found on a rocky beach in Eastbourne about 4.30pm yesterday, the Dominion Post reported.

Three young surfers spent almost two hours trying to refloat the injured whale they named "Harry".

The boys, all aged 14 or 15, managed to float the whale several times but it kept returning to shore, injuring itself on rocks.

Community Constable Anthony Harmer said the whale was obviously sick and didn't want to go back out to sea.

"It was that injured it just kept beaching itself," he said.

"It was all the young guys really, they did such a good job but nothing could be done."

Mr Harmer said he had never seen a whale beached in Eastbourne before and it had been a moving experience.

The whale's carcass was taken away by DOC.

- NZPA