Humpback whale dies at Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head, near Ballina

A large-scale operation to rescue a beached whale came to a sad end with the 30-tonne humpback dying before the tide could take it back out to sea.

The six-metre whale was discovered stranded on Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head, near Ballina in northern New South Wales, on Saturday afternoon.

Members of the public were told to steer clear of the area as teams worked to move the whale back out to sea.

Maritime rescuers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sea World and the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia all tried to help save the mammal.

Authorities had hoped a high tide in the evening would be able to take the whale into deeper waters.

Rescue teams had spent the day providing shade, posture repositioning and pain relief for the stranded whale.

The whale sadly died at about 7pm on Saturday, and is expected to be removed from the beach on Sunday morning. 

Humpback whales are very active along Australia’s east coast from April through to November. 

At this time of year, the whales can be spotted along the coastline as they migrate north towards warmer waters for mating season.

Authorities had hoped incoming tides would help refloat the whale (above) but it tragically died at about 7pm

Popular viewing spots include Eden and Byron Bay in NSW, and Hervey Bay in Queensland. 

However, Out of the Blue Adventures co-founder Dean Fuchs said it is unusual for whales to beach themselves while migrating north.

‘[If they’re stuck] they’ve generally made the wrong turn,’ Fuchs told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Fuchs said the recent large swells could be disorientating for some whales, like the one at Seven Mile Beach.

‘Or, it could be sick or injured and had to come close to shore,’ he added.