Stranded whale shot dead after no chance of rescue out of River Thames

A stranded pilot whale was shot dead after desperate attempts to save it from the River Thames estuary.

The female pilot whale and her calf were reported stranded in shallow water off Canvey Island in Essex.

The fire brigade and a team from the South Essex Wildlife Hospital were called to the scene.

Vets, marine biologists and divers were called in and an operation...