Special branch marine unit and helicopter alerted after pod of pilot whales spotted near shallow water at St Lawrence Bay

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Police officers have been called in to help escort a pod of whales away from the shoreline.

Essex police’s marine unit and helicopter were alerted to concerns the 40 pilot whales might become stranded on beaches or sandbanks after being spotted close to shore.

PC Simon Lofting, from the marine unit, said: “We have had small numbers of dolphins and porpoises off Essex but this is the first time so many whales have been seen.

“It was certainly one of our more unusual operations and we all worked closely to ensure that the whales were not stranded in shallow water while chasing shoals of herrings.”

Members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity called the police and coastguard when the whales were close to shallow water at St Lawrence Bay on Tuesday.

They spent the day shepherding the whales to safer waters, then monitored their movements throughout Wednesday.

The special branch marine unit used a high-speed boat to reach the scene and with local boats managed to turn the pod back towards the open sea.

The mammals, which were believed to be following and eating shoals of herring, were later seen heading towards the shore between St Osyth and Jaywick.

At one point the helicopter descended to about 61 metres (200ft) to “flag down” a local fishing boat that was heading straight for the whales, police said.

PC Kevin Flinn, observer on the helicopter, said: “We hovered between the beach and the pod and were able to move closer to them until they turned and went back to deeper water.

“The whales were about five metres long and in very shallow water and with the tide receding.

“There certainly was a risk of them beaching on the sandbanks but we moved them away from danger. The marine unit boat and other vessels then took over and escorted the pod further offshore.”