Rescuers wept as a mission to save a porpoise stranded off the Margate coast ultimately ended in vain.

The 1.4 metre long light grey young adult was found on the beach at Westbrook near the Barnes Avenue promenade car park at around 11.30am on Wednesday (Nov 5).

Nine volunteers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team took part in the effort to save the creature.

They arrived with the RSPCA and called vets from Dover to check the condition of the porpoise. They said it was fit enough to be refloated, but owing to poor tidal conditions at Westbrook decided it should be taken elsewhere.

Specialist animal rescue crews from Faversham and an inflatable boat from Kent Fire and Rescue stations at Faversham and Sheppey transported the porpoise to Pegwell Bay, near Ramsgate. They attempted to refloat it, but it was disorientated and having difficulty reorientating its sonar and finding its bearings. It could only swim around before heading back to its rescuers.

Eventually, with failing light and deteriorating tidal conditions, the decision was taken to put the porpoise to sleep as it was becoming more distressed.

Jon Brooks from Ramsgate is one of the diver volunteers. He said: “Porpoises are quite common off our shores, but it’s not often they become stranded on the beaches. This was a young adult, no longer dependent on its mother.”