In a rare event, a whale has swum up the River Thames. Northern bottle-nosed whales are usually found in deep waters in the Atlantic.
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It managed to pass the Thames Barrier and swim under many bridges including Westminster Bridge...
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...before heading past the Houses of Parliament.
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Crowds gathered on bridges across the Thames on Friday afternoon as the whale made its way upstream. Photo: Rob Fenwick
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A police launch monitored the whale, with marine experts on hand in case it beached itself.
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The whale swam close to shore and had to be encouraged to swim into deeper water to avoid being beached.
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Its appearance attracted much attention along the river. Photo: E J May
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Vets remained on standby, experts have said it does not appear to be ill, but are concerned it will get weaker and may become beached. Photo: Guy Bailey.
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However, the whale crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding.
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Whale rescue
As the tide dropped, the attempt to rescue a whale stranded in the River Thames began. This man herded the whale toward the shore...
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... watched by spectators and TV viewers around the world. The public was later moved from the foreshore to avoid the rising tide and make way for rescuers.
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Rescuers laid their hands on the whale to steady and reassure it, keeping their palms flat so as to protect its delicate skin.
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A sling to lift the whale off the river bottom was moved into position, as resting on the river could have caused life-threatening pressure injuries to its lungs.
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The incongruous sight of a whale beached opposite Chelsea's expensive houses had been beamed across the world.
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Then inflatable pontoons were attached to the sling to lift the whale clear, a system developed in New Zealand, the first country to hone expertise in whale rescues.
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Two vets who specialise in helping stranded whales joined the team to assess its condition and decide if it is well enough to be returned to the sea. Otherwise it could have had to have been put down.
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As the vets got to work, rescuers splashed water on the whale's body and apply lubricating gel to its eyes and blowhole. Wet blankets were draped over its back.
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Crowds flocked to Battersea Bridge to see the whale travel towards the barge that planned to take it to safety.
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As the tide rose, the whale was lashed between inflatable rafts and towed slowly to the Crossness salvage barge that lifted it from the water.
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The yellow pontoons also acted as a hood covering the whale's eyes to keep it calm.
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As well as a general physical examination, blood tests and an ultrasound blubber test will determine its condition. Efforts were made to keep it calm and wet during the journey.
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The barge made slow progress through east London as it headed towards the estuary.
The first live whale to be seen in the Thames in living memory was spotted at about lunchtime on Friday. It was heading west, away from the sea, past central London.
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Images of the northern bottlenosed whale swimming past the Houses of Parliament were beamed around the world. This image was the mainstay of Britain's daily papers on Saturday morning.