A starving baby seal was saved from certain death by volunteers after it was found washed up on a Herne Bay beach.

The pup, which is believed to be about nine months old, was severely underweight and suffering from a lungworm infection when it was found lying against a wall near Hampton Pier.

Volunteers from Divers Marine Life Rescue took the seal to the Mallydams Wood RSPCA centre near Hastings for treatment after being called out to it on December 20.

One of those on the scene, Jez Stone, said the seal would have died if it had not been found.

“It was just a baby,” he said.

“He weighed 17 kilos and was about nine months old – at that age they should be weighing between 35 and 40 kilos.”

The seal has been given antibiotics to tackle the lungworm, which can be fatal, and has been put on a liquid diet.

He has responded well to the treatment, but Mr Stone, who lives in Westgate, is unsure when the seal will be released back into the wild.

“It could weeks or months,” he said. “He’ll be put back into the wild when he can feed himself without assistance, is completely clear of lungworm, and his body temperature and mass are normal.”