Beached whale back at sea after spectators block it

Rescuers said last night that they had led a beached sperm whale back to the sea after hordes of spectators blocked its return for days.

Dozens of navy divers and volunteers used 10 boats to pull the two-tonne whale to deep waters on Saturday.

The 12-metre whale was washed ashore last week near Karawang beach in West Java and hundreds of onlookers posed for photos with it. Rescuers tried to lead it to sea but it washed back to shore after boats packed with passengers blocked it.

AP