Sperm whale rescue operation is under way

Boats encourage the sperm whale back into deeper water. Photo: Adrian Darbyshire

A dramatic rescue mission was under way today (Wednesday) to save a 45-ft plus sperm whale from stranding.

The enormous whale has spent most of the past week at the head of Whiteness Voe and was in danger of beaching on the Nesbister shoreline.

But last night boats were used to encourage the mammal into deeper water beyond Nesbister Bod.

And by lunchtime today, the rescue operation was in full swing with four boats being used to persuade the whale out of the voe as far as Usta Ness.