It was all hands on deck on the morning of Christmas Eve when Richards Bay locals spotted a stranded whale at 9 Mile Beach north of Alkantstrand.

The mammal, believed to be a short-finned pilot whale and measuring between 3-4m, was still alive when it was found washed up, and the Station 19 National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) duty crew immediately sprang into action.

In contact with both Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the KZN Stranding Network, and assisted by Meerensee CPF members, several attempts were made by the NSRI to assist the whale back out to sea in a lengthy rescue operation spanning more than four hours.

It appears the whale did successfully go back out to sea, despite a lacerated dorsal fin.

(Photos and videos were provided by Ceee Buss.)