Search called off for whale spotted close to Norfolk coast amid hopes it has returned to deeper water

Stranded: The coastguard looks on after receiving reports of a whale 300 to 400 yards off shore
Ben Kendall/PA Wire
Laura Proto9 February 2016

The search for another whale thought to have been in trouble of the coast of Norfolk has been called off amid hopes it has returned to deeper waters.

The UK Coastguard was called at about 10am today after a member of the Mundesley Coastguard Rescue Team reported seeing the sperm whale 300 to 400 yards offshore.

A spokesman from the rescue team said the whale – the seventh seen in the area – was reported to be alive and thrashing about in shallow water.

The search was stood down after low tide at about 2pm and a 90-minute period with no further sightings of the whale.

Keith Griffin, station officer for the Happisburgh and Mundesley Coastguard Team, said: "We've carried out an extensive search and are confident that if the whale was in that search area, we'd have found it.

"Low tide has now passed so with a bit of luck it will return to deeper waters and stand a chance of survival."

Coast: Whale watchers at Mundesley in Norfolk
Ben Kendall/PA Wire

The next low tide, when the whale is most likely to become stranded, is due at about 2am on Wednesday.

Earlier today, Mike Puplett from the UK Coastguard advised people to stay away from the whale as not to cause it distress as crowds gathered along the cost between Walcott and Overstrand.

Today’s sighting comes just days after another whale became stranded in Hunstanton and later died.

Four dead whales washed up on the Lincolnshire coast last month, along with another at Hunstanton.

Others have been found in France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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