Confused whale blocks Marseille marina
Rescue services in the southern French city of Marseille battled for nearly an hour on Wednesday to free what is thought to have been a large whale that got stuck in the city's marina.
The roughly 15-metre (50-foot) creature swam into the old port in the centre of the Mediterranean city around lunchtime and blocked the entrance, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers who watched as divers attempted to free it.
Responding to reports of a whale-like mammal which "seemed disoriented", a spokesman for local rescue services said it was the first time police had been called to respond to such an incident.
VIDÉO #baleine ?? coincée dans le port de Marseille #vieuxport pic.twitter.com/Wk4LwegPAW
— France Bleu Provence (@bleuprovence) October 18, 2017
A variety of whales, dolphins and porpoises are known to live in the Mediterranean.
Earlier this month, at least a dozen injured dolphins washed up on beaches on the southern French coast, leaving local maritime officials baffled.
#Marseille #baleine baleine coincée dans une anse du port. @PoliceNat13 @MarinsPompiers objectif : libérer l'espace pour tourner le cétacé pic.twitter.com/S2TMRB0H36
— Police nationale 13 (@PoliceNat13) October 18, 2017