Humpback whale which swam into River Thames found dead, diving charity says

A humpback whale which was spotted swimming in the River Thames this week has died, a diving charity has said.

Sightings of the animal, nicknamed Hessy, were reported over the weekend and its presence in the river was confirmed by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) on Sunday.

But in an update on Tuesday evening, BDMLR said on Twitter: "Terribly sad news that soon after 5pm today the humpback whale which had not been seen in the Thames all day, was found dead around the Greenhithe area.

"Hopefully tomorrow a necropsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death."

The BDMLR added: "The Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) will carry out a necropsy as soon as it's possible, they will then publish their findings."

A Port of London Authority pilot boat has been dispatched to find the whale's carcass.

It was the first time in a decade that a humpback whale was spotted swimming in the River Thames.

While whales are sometimes seen off the British coast further north, national co-ordinator for BDMLR Julia Cable said it was "very unusual" for one to be seen within the Thames Estuary.

"It's very likely that it just made a navigational error," she added.

In 2006, a northern bottlenose whale was spotted in the Thames in central London.

On that occasion the whale, which was too weak to find its way back out of the river on its own, ultimately died as rescuers attempted to transport it back to sea.

And in 2009 a humpback whale was found washed up on the shore of the Thames in Kent, having seemingly died from starvation.

A year ago a beluga whale - which was given the nickname Benny - was spotted swimming in the Thames near Gravesend.

It is thought to have made its own way back out to sea in the new year.