A SECOND member of a pod of Pilot Whales that have spent several days in the Thames estuary and may have gone as far upstream as Purfleet has been confirmed to have died.

However, it is hoped the rest of the pod, estimated to be around 20 strong and including calves, have now returned to the open sea.

Yesterday (Saturday, 19 September) members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) organisation, assisted by other organisations and the Port of London, attempted to 'herd' the group down river towards the mouth of the estuary and open water.

During the operation one of the pod members, possibly one that had been stranded alongside a dead whale earlier in the day and was refloated, separated itself during the herding effort and appeared to be in distress briefly becoming stranded alive at Canvey Island.

It was quickly washed out again before BDMRL Medics could take any action and was not re-sighted, despite shoreline searches, until dark.

On further searches early this morning in conjunction with the local Coastguard team the whale was found ashore and confirmed deceased. It was a female measuring 4.5m.

BDMRL members are liasing with colleagues at the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme who are aiming to recover it for a post mortem examination.

Pilot Whales spotted in the Thames this week. Even though they have

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BDMRL said: "These detailed scientific examinations are very useful in providing information about the animal's health status, genetics, nutrition and more.

"The information from these helps to continually build our knowledge of the species and informs the development of evidence-based live stranding response protocols for organisations around the world.

"Meanwhile, searches continue today via Civil Air Support for the rest of the pod, whom we hope have continued to move out into the North Sea. If anyone does sight them please report to our hotline on 01825 765546. Our teams remain on standby to respond should they return."