Humpback seen in Thames dies

THE humpback whale spotted swimming in the Thames has died.

The juvenile whale, nicknamed Hessy in a nod to the Loch Ness Monster, was seen diving and surfacing (above) in the estuary near Dagenham at the weekend.

Initial reports said the whale appeared in good health.

An attempt to retrieve the whale’s carcass will be made today. The body – which measured between 25-32ft – was reported close to the Kent shore at Greenhithe floating with the tide.

It was unclear yesterday as to Hessy’s cause of death. One possibility is that the whale died of exhaustion as it ran out of fat reserves – with sources of food in short supply in the river.