A whale has washed up on a rocky beach in Cornwall while still alive, according to rescue authorities.

The animal was “in death throes” when medics reached it and did not survive, British Divers Marine Life Rescue said.

They were alerted of a live stranded whale on Parbean Beach in Cornwall around 1.30pm on Friday.

The fin whale had “numerous superficial injuries all over its body” and some deeper ones – especially around its tail – when medics arrived, according to British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

“It had been thrashing and beating its flukes on the rocks, creating a horrific noise like thunder,” the marine animal rescue group said.

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The animal reportedly may have turned over since becoming stuck high up on the rocky beach.

The fin whale also gave signs it had not eaten for some time, the rescue group said.

Steve Green from Clean Ocean Sailing said they had spotted the animal earlier in the day swimming near them while out at sea.

“It was wonderful to see her alongside us,” he said.

Mr Green said they were “horrified to see her stranded on the rocks” during a beach clean up later.

Fin whales were once listed as endangered after years of being targeted by poachers and whalers led them to the brink of extinction.

The fin whale also gave signs it had not eaten for some time, the rescue group said (British Divers Marine Life Rescue)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature updated their status to “vulnerable” in 2018 after their numbers started to grow again.

Last month, the first killer whale in nearly two decades was found washed up on the English shoreline.

It was found with plastic in its stomach, although this was not thought to have been deadly, authorities said.