BELUGA BENNY SET FOR RESCUE LIKE FREE WILLY
BENNY the beluga could be airlifted from the Thames back to Iceland.
Experts are planning the Free Willy-style rescue if the whale is still there by spring when the water starts warming up, which will affect its health.
It will be put in a giant “wet sling” before being transferred to a tank and flown 1,150 miles to Klettsvik Bay sea sanctuary.
Marine biologist Dr Chris Parsons, one of the team monitoring Benny, said: “Maybe it’ll be OK over winter, but if there’s another summer heatwave, that will not be great for it. The water is too warm.
“And there are concerns about pollution and disease.” Benny has been in the Thames 10 days. British Divers Marine Life Rescue confirmed it is considering the airlift.
Keiko, the whale in the Free Willy film, was flown from a US aquarium to Iceland.