First UK sighting of whale species

The 3m-long creature, which is related to the much larger sperm whale, was seen swimming close inshore off Penzance, in south-west Cornwall.

It was filmed and the footage posted on YouTube.

After catching on a rock the whale swam to the shore where a beach walker successfully redirected the creature, which was bleeding from one side, seaward.

Volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue arrived and one snorkelled out in a bid to examine the animal.

Unfortunately it simply “swam further away”, Dave Jarvis, BDMLR’s area co-ordinator, told the BBC.

When boats from a nearby sailing club launched, it disappeared completely.

The dwarf sperm whale’s usual habit is the deep ocean, where it feeds on seabed creatures including crustaceans and fish.