THE first Humpback whale to be discovered in the Thames is believed to have staved to death.

The 28ft male was seen struggling in waters near the Tilbury Docks before being found dead near the Queen Elizabeth Bridge in Dartford, early on Saturday.

Sue White, spokeswoman for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said: “Medics went out on a boat to see if they could spot the animal and identify it.

“Unfortunately, nothing more was seen of the whale until the early hours of Saturday morning when it was found dead at Erith, Kent.”

A post-mortem examination was carried out by Zoological Society.