Marine life rescue teams have been battling to keep a whale alive after it was found stranded on Castle Beach in Falmouth earlier today.
Initial reports suggested the stricken animal was a dolphin but marine mammal medics identified it as a young pilot whale.
Volunteers formed a human chain to pass buckets of water along the beach to pour over the animal to keep it cool.
The whale was also covered in wet towels and surrounded by a screen.
However, it is understood the whale is too badly injured to be returned to the water and will have to be put down.
Julia Cable, a spokesman for British Divers Marine Life Rescue who have been monitoring the animal, said the 4.1-metre whale was spotted just after 11am.
Earlier today she said: "The body condition is poor and it has some marks on its body. We are having a vet look at it at the moment.
"We've got about 15 volunteer marine mammal medics on scene with specialist equipment.
"They are monitoring its breathing, keeping it damp and trying to minimize the stress of the animal.
"We are in consultation with a vet at the moment and it's up to the vet to say what the condition is and to decide whether we can attempt to refloat it.
"At the moment I'm not sure if that's going to be possible. It will survive on the beach for some time but we are not in the business of prolonging an animal's agony."
