0:00:02 > 0:00:06Every day, the dedicated crews of the police, fire, ambulance and coast guard respond
0:00:06 > 0:00:09to thousands of 999 calls. We're on call with the emergency services,
0:00:09 > 0:00:11bringing you all the drama, bravery and commitment
0:00:11 > 0:00:14as they work to save us from disaster.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16This is Real Rescues.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Tonight, a bottlenose whale thousands of miles off course
0:00:35 > 0:00:39sparks a huge rescue operation on the mud flats of the south coast.
0:00:39 > 0:00:45The whale has gone over on its side. They're digging a channel to try and right it,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47then we'll try and float it out.
0:00:49 > 0:00:55Traffic cop Jim Holden deals with the aftermath when a 13-year-old girl steps out into the road.
0:00:55 > 0:01:01She literally turned her back, then walked straight out across the road.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04And the 18th hole doubles up as a landing pad
0:01:04 > 0:01:09after 93-year-old Bill collapses following his weekly game.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11He started saying his chest was tight.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13He got back into the locker room and collapsed.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22The specialist animal unit of Hampshire Fire and Rescue
0:01:22 > 0:01:26have the training, equipment and commitment to save animals,
0:01:26 > 0:01:28sometimes in the most difficult of circumstances.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31If there's hope, they'll fight on for as long as it takes.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36In this next rescue, they're pushed to the absolute limit,
0:01:36 > 0:01:43working in terrible conditions, trying to save a creature few of them have ever seen - a whale.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48It was an event which captured the nation as news bulletins followed every step.
0:01:51 > 0:01:57We join the operation after the first sighting of the whale off Hayling Island on the south coast.
0:02:03 > 0:02:09It's late July, and a team of animal specialists are heading out to investigate.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14The whale, never before seen in these waters, is dangerously off course.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19But what it needs to do is come out of the harbour entrance, turn right,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22go down the channel into deep water,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25then it'll be on a good course back to the Atlantic where it belongs.
0:02:26 > 0:02:32After a few turns around with no sight, they get some more bad news.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38The whale has headed back up a very shallow channel and almost becomes stranded.
0:02:38 > 0:02:44They turn around. Keith Andrews from Marine Life Rescue is on board. They get a sighting.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47What's that right down there, then?
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- That's it.- That's it.- Yeah.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55What they'd taken to be mud is in fact the whale.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00- It just blew just now, so it's...- Swimming inwards as well.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Swimming inwards? So it's swimming back in this direction.
0:03:04 > 0:03:11So we'll head over towards it and we'll try and turn it, so it heads out to sea.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13In fact, there it is.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17- It's on the surface. - It's on the surface.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20How shallow is it over there, then?
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Probably about eight to ten feet of water.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Here it comes. There you go.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Yeah, bottlenose. Without a doubt.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Now they're closer, they can see it's a northern bottlenose whale.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39It's almost six metres in length.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44They get a good look as it swims under the boat and comes up to blow.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52I think he's full-grown.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56He's exactly what it describes in the book.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02The team want to give the whale every chance of swimming out to sea to safety.
0:04:02 > 0:04:08The best thing to do is keep away and keep other boats clear, so it doesn't get too stressed.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14There's a whale in the water there. That side. You can see it there.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19- Just stay to the left. - Cheers, mate.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22We're trying to head off people coming up here now.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26The more distressed it gets, the less chance it's got of survival.
0:04:30 > 0:04:37The whale is swimming freely, but the tide is coming in and the whale is coming in with it.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41For its survival, it needs to be heading out the other way.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46It's now gradually moving itself back up in towards Langstone Harbour. It's not a good move.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52The experts are worried about stressing the whale.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Being on the boat is not helping, so they return to shore.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00They'll monitor its progress from land and decide what can be done to get it back to safety.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03It's been a pleasure to see the whale,
0:05:03 > 0:05:07but I wish we hadn't been called out. I get a bit tearful.
0:05:07 > 0:05:13The best-case scenario is it turns on its own tail and swims out.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17That's all you can hope for.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20What is the other end of the spectrum?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25We won't go there, shall we? Not at the moment.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27It's still hopeful.
0:05:27 > 0:05:33As the daylight fades, the rescuers can only hope that by the next morning,
0:05:33 > 0:05:40the whale will have found its way out of the harbour and back to its feeding grounds in the Atlantic.
0:05:45 > 0:05:51Remember the Green Cross Code or Tufty the Squirrel? "Look left, look right, look left again"?
0:05:51 > 0:05:56You'd better had. A moment's inattention could mean hospital.
0:06:06 > 0:06:12Traffic cop Jim Holden's just started on a late shift and he's been given his first job.
0:06:12 > 0:06:13It doesn't sound good.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28It's the sort of shout any policeman hurries to.
0:06:28 > 0:06:35It's a fair old distance to the scene, and more information comes in while Jim is on his way.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Jim reaches the scene,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50and all the evidence suggests a really serious incident.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54OK, three-zero.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- 'Thank you. Confirmed.' - Cor, this looks nasty.
0:06:58 > 0:07:04As Jim arrives, the paramedics are getting the 13-year-old schoolgirl, Emma, into the ambulance.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06'It was evidently a nasty impact.
0:07:06 > 0:07:12'The car was badly damaged. The windscreen was completely caved in and shattered.'
0:07:12 > 0:07:17And there was a dent on the car where it had hit her.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22There's even some of the schoolgirl's hair caught in the smashed glass.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Local copper Ellie Herd brings Jim up to date.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29She's with the driver of the car.
0:07:29 > 0:07:36- This is the driver. This is Mr Mark Bowditch. I'm waiting for his details to come back.- Lovely.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41- The bus driver was also a witness. - Fantastic. Is that it for witnesses?
0:07:41 > 0:07:47- I believe so, but I haven't talked to the neighbours. - Done the breath test?- Not as yet.
0:07:47 > 0:07:53- If you come this way...- Mark. - I've got to breathalyse you. Everyone in RTIs gets it.
0:07:53 > 0:08:00It's just procedure. I'm not suggesting you've had a drink, but we've got to do it.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02What actually happened?
0:08:02 > 0:08:07Mark is understandably very shaken up.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10'I was coming to pick up my son.'
0:08:10 > 0:08:15Literally, I saw the girl on her own, walking towards me.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20She turned around and bolted straight across in front of me.
0:08:20 > 0:08:27I just slammed the brakes on, heard this almighty crash and from there I jumped out of the car.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29The best thing was she was actually conscious.
0:08:31 > 0:08:38But, obviously, blood on her forehead and everything else...I panicked. I just didn't know what to do.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42You think, "What have I done?! What have you done?!"
0:08:42 > 0:08:47- Do you know the speed involved? - I was doing about 30, if that.- OK.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51- I just came down there. - We just need to know...
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Emma was conscious when she was carried to the ambulance,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56but until they know how bad her injuries are,
0:08:56 > 0:09:01Jim has to keep the location exactly as it was at the time of the accident.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06Can I just move everyone down here a bit further? We'll tape it off.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11Do you want to sit in my car? Would that be...? Yeah?
0:09:11 > 0:09:16If Emma's injuries are life-threatening, the police may have to treat it like a crime scene.
0:09:16 > 0:09:21Jim grabs his camera to record the scene as evidence.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26- That's her shoe there. - He spots one of Emma's shoes under the car.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30There's another some way away on the grass.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37With the ambulance now on its way to hospital, Jim and his colleagues can only wait
0:09:37 > 0:09:41until they know how bad her injuries really are.
0:09:41 > 0:09:47When people are taken off by ambulance, it can be quite a while before you know their condition.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50In the meantime, you get on with it.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54'You've got work to do, witnesses to speak to,'
0:09:54 > 0:09:57but you are constantly waiting for that call to say how that person is.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01In the meantime, Jim needs to get a full statement from Mark.
0:10:01 > 0:10:07I know I've asked you briefly, but for the benefit of my notebook, what happened?
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I was going down Forest Road...
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Immediately, you think you've done something wrong.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16And you feel that you're the guilty party, in effect,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20because that's the way it's got to be investigated.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25You're the one behind the wheel, in the killing machine.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28In terms of this investigation
0:10:28 > 0:10:31we'll decide whether or not you were at fault, as with any accident.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34We just look at it, decide if there's been any fault.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37The chances are she stepped out without looking.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40I doubt very much there will be anything coming back onto you,
0:10:40 > 0:10:44but we'll see what happens.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47What the witnesses said about it,
0:10:47 > 0:10:48there was nothing I could do,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52but you don't feel any better. The paramedics took her away
0:10:52 > 0:10:55and all said it was life-threatening, that's all I had,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57for three or four hours,
0:10:57 > 0:11:02knowing that the possibility that child would die because of my car.
0:11:02 > 0:11:09Everything still depends on Emma. Jim can't clear the scene, but he can at least let Mark get home.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Mark, we're all done. You can head off now.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15I'll give you a call later to let you know how she is.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19It's me who'll be dealing with it. I'll call later on and let you know how she is.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23I'll update you on everything. You OK?
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- Need a cup of tea. - Something a bit stronger later, maybe.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29I don't drink during the week.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32No, no, all right, then. I'll give you a call later on.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Soon after, the call from the hospital with an update.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47'There are several grazings over her body. She's conscious, breathing on her own
0:11:47 > 0:11:50'and talking as if nothing happened to her.'
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Can I confirm, there's no significant head or brain injury?
0:11:54 > 0:11:57'That is confirmed. That is confirmed.'
0:11:57 > 0:12:01So, amazingly, despite that massive dent in the windscreen,
0:12:01 > 0:12:06it seems young Emma's survived comparatively unscathed.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- Lovely.- Happy days.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14It was the biggest weight off my shoulders that I could imagine.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19The fact that she was all right and it wasn't life-threatening.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23'She can go back to school and everything else, to a normal life.'
0:12:23 > 0:12:27But hopefully will have learned something out of it.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31It was a fantastic weight off my shoulders.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36With Emma out of danger and a full picture now emerging,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Jim can clear the scene. Later in the programme,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41we'll hear from Emma and find out how she's progressing.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47It's early in the morning, and the Animal Rescue Unit
0:12:47 > 0:12:52have been called out for a second time by British Divers and Marine Life Rescue.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Yesterday, they had their first sighting of a northern bottlenose whale
0:12:56 > 0:12:58in trouble, swimming off the Hampshire coast.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02The fact that Jim Green and his men are needed means only one thing.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04The whale is stranded now.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07And the British Divers and Marine Life Rescue
0:13:07 > 0:13:11want access to the whale so they can assess it.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13See what its condition is.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Jim's heading to Hayling Island near Portsmouth where his colleages
0:13:16 > 0:13:19have already scrambled three fire crews.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22All right. Get yourself suited in a second
0:13:22 > 0:13:24then we'll go and make an assessment.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28The 18-foot-whale is beached on the mud flats.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32It's still alive, but it's now a battle against time to save the animal.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34A battle to be fought in the toughest conditions,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37hot weather and deep mud.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44The Fire Service is doing all they can to keep the whale cool by spraying it with water.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:13:49 > 0:13:51If they keep walking in and out here all morning...
0:13:53 > 0:13:57The mud flats are potentially treacherous to work on.
0:13:57 > 0:13:58There we go then.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02So the first thing Jim has to do is sort out a safe surface.
0:14:02 > 0:14:08They use large inflatable pathways designed specifically for rescues in conditions like these.
0:14:08 > 0:14:15You get people from different organisations and volunteers, so you need a level of co-ordination.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20Our role here, as well as support, is also a co-ordination role.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Can you get that out to him?
0:14:23 > 0:14:29Now the walkway is in place, the rescuers can get all the equipment they need whaleside.
0:14:29 > 0:14:35They have covered the animal in linen sheets to keep the skin wet.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40Anton stays in contact with Jim, telling him exactly what's required.
0:14:40 > 0:14:46The whale has gone over on its side. They're now digging a channel to try and right it,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48then we'll try and float it out.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51We'll get a big firefighting jet out there,
0:14:51 > 0:14:58from this river over here, and blast the channel to get it out.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03The rescuers have to work quickly.
0:15:03 > 0:15:11It's 8.30 in the morning and the experts know they have only a couple of hours to right the whale.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13The biggest problem we've got with large cetaceans
0:15:13 > 0:15:16is that if they're on a hard surface for a long period of time,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19it starts crushing their internal organs,
0:15:19 > 0:15:24so we've only got two hours to get this animal into deeper water.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28If we can't do that, it can't be re-floated.
0:15:28 > 0:15:34- What will happen then?- It will have to be put to sleep. Its internal organs will be crushed beyond repair.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40This is an almighty task, requiring superhuman strength.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44It's hard enough to move in the mud, let alone shift five tons of whale.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49We're trying to liquefy the mud around its belly, so it can roll into an upright position,
0:15:49 > 0:15:57but the water is building up around the animal and could cause it to drown if we're not careful.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02So we'll try and get rid of that water to stop that from happening.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06The vet needs to take some blood samples from the whale.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10The tide has started to come in, but the whale hasn't righted itself.
0:16:10 > 0:16:16They try putting strops under the animal and pontoons round it to help lift the whale free from the mud.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20It's extraordinary what lengths the men are going to,
0:16:20 > 0:16:25but as long as it can survive, they'll keep working.
0:16:25 > 0:16:30When you're working in mud, there's suction on your feet, on your legs.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Slipping and sliding all over the place becomes very tiring.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36But we wouldn't give up until the very last minute.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39All eyes are focused on the fight for life in the mud flats,
0:16:39 > 0:16:44everyone willing the rescuers to pull off this Herculean task.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47The tide is coming in very quickly.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49The tide's racing in.
0:16:49 > 0:16:56We've got a channel through, but we haven't got the time to right the whale now.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01It's just coming in too fast. We had a time limit.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03They've worked their backsides off out there.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07We've got to the point where we've had to make a safety call
0:17:07 > 0:17:10because we cannot be disconnected from the shore at any time.
0:17:10 > 0:17:18The experts from Marine Life Rescue stay around the whale as the fire crews retreat back to shore.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23The whole country looks on to see if this bottlenose can free itself.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27We'll be with the rescuers as the tide comes in.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38The Great North Air Ambulance has been scrambled.
0:17:38 > 0:17:45On board are pilot Captain Andy Figg and air crew paramedics Tom Grantham and Paul Scott.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53They've been called to a golf course in County Durham.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57A 93-year-old man has collapsed after playing nine holes.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01We'll jump out and examine the patient
0:18:01 > 0:18:05and decide which is the best hospital to care for the gentleman.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Once there, they land on the 18th hole of the golf course itself.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20Bill the golfer is already being cared for in the land ambulance.
0:18:20 > 0:18:26They need to know what caused the collapse, so he'll have to go to hospital to be checked out.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31It will be quicker to take him by air to a trauma unit nearer his home 45 miles away in Saltburn.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41- Could I ask you to take that? Are you driving back to Saltburn?- No.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- I'll take it then. - He goes on the train.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48My colleagues will wheel him across to the aircraft,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52then he'll ride in our helicopter. OK?
0:18:54 > 0:19:00Bill regularly does a 90-mile round trip to play golf here with his friend John Armen.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Bill, we'll put you on to our stretcher,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05then lift you on to our helicopter.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Bring your legs round for us, mate.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11He's been playing here for 45 years.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14It's been lovely and warm.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17before he started to play, he had a heavy cold.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20He then started saying his chest was tight.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Got back into the locker room and collapsed.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27It has been a shock for John to see his golfing partner so ill.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29But he's optimistic that Bill will be back to tee off again soon.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34He's marvellous. To be able to play golf at 93 is a wonderful thing.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37With a bit of luck, he'll be out next Tuesday.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44Once on board, Paul checks Bill's blood pressure and pulse rate.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47- All right there?- Fine, fine.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51He discovers that Bill's blood pressure is a bit low.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Paul decides to prepare Bill for any intravenous medicines he may need.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57This is just some salty water going through,
0:19:57 > 0:20:02just in case I need to give you a drug quickly in flight.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05His BP was 90 over 60.
0:20:05 > 0:20:12IV access, O2. He's got a pulse of 65, O2 sats of 100. I'm quite happy with that.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14The team prepare to take off.
0:20:14 > 0:20:20We'll put you on some headphones. If you've got a problem, tap me.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33The crew don't waste any time getting airborne again.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39It'll take just ten minutes' flying time to get Bill to hospital.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Paul will be sitting beside him to monitor his condition.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49His bp was fairly low.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53We need to know if there's anything internal happening for his bp to drop.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56It may be just a slight faint.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57We'll monitor him en route.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01He's fairly comfortable, I think he's enjoying the flight.
0:21:12 > 0:21:18The minute they touch down on the helipad, Bill is out and on the hospital trolley.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Hello there.- Hello.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25The paramedics hand over to A&E Sister Sarah Newton.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30- All right? And his daughter's been informed. He's got his false teeth in his bag.- OK.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36With a successful handover, Paul and Tom can get back to base.
0:21:37 > 0:21:42Bill quite enjoyed his flight in the helicopter. He's an experienced air passenger.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45I've been on the...
0:21:45 > 0:21:48the old Lancasters.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Lysanders. All the old ones.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Draughty ones!
0:21:55 > 0:22:00Bill will now get all the checks he needs to get to the bottom of what caused that collapse.
0:22:00 > 0:22:07Hopefully, it's nothing serious. He'll get all the blood tests and scans and things.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11I'm sure he'll recover for another game of golf.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15We'll find out if he does make it back to the greens.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Back at Hayling Island near Portsmouth on the south coast,
0:22:22 > 0:22:27the desperate attempt to save a stranded bottlenose whale continues.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35The whale, which weighs around five tons, beached on the mud flats overnight.
0:22:37 > 0:22:4315 firefighters led by Hampshire Animal Rescue specialists and British Marine Life Rescue
0:22:43 > 0:22:49have worked for four hours clearing its blowhole and creating a way out.
0:22:49 > 0:22:56Attempts to get the animal on to an inflatable pontoon have been beaten by the tide which is now almost in.
0:22:56 > 0:23:03A small crew has stayed by the juvenile male, hoping it will find the strength to swim free.
0:23:03 > 0:23:09We probably stand about a 40/60% chance of getting this animal back out to sea.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12That's a 40% chance which isn't very high.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16With the water around it, it suddenly tries to right itself.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20The creature appears to be heading for open water.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
0:23:32 > 0:23:37The rescue kayaks do all they can to encourage the animal to keep on course.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42But once again, it starts heading back towards the mud flats.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52She's constantly rolling on to her right side and it's the right side she was stuck on.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56So we are very concerned for her welfare.
0:23:56 > 0:24:02And there is some more bad news. The results of the blood test confirm their worst fears.
0:24:02 > 0:24:08We've got a very sick whale. It's very clear. The results are very definitive.
0:24:08 > 0:24:14The animal is in a poor condition - kidney failure, muscle damage, anaemia and dehydration.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18And so euthanasia is the only way forward.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22We don't really know why this animal is where it is.
0:24:22 > 0:24:27It has become separated from other bottlenose whales in the deep ocean.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30We don't know why that separation has occurred.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Is it a sick animal, was it sick to begin with?
0:24:34 > 0:24:39We'll investigate these things on the post-mortem examination.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43We cannot rescue it. Euthanasia is the only humane option.
0:24:43 > 0:24:51Now all they can do is wait until the whale strands again before they can perform the final humane act.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54The whole team were very disappointed we didn't get a result,
0:24:54 > 0:24:59generally we do get a good result. But we gave it a good go.
0:24:59 > 0:25:05I feel extremely privileged to have been able to be on a whale rescue attempt.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09It is so unusual to be there, to be right up close to it,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13to actually look and marvel at the size of this animal,
0:25:13 > 0:25:19but to give it the best chance to get back to its own environment.
0:25:19 > 0:25:25Let's catch up with some of the other rescues we've featured on tonight's programme.
0:25:25 > 0:25:3013-year-old Emma, who was knocked down by a car, has fully recovered,
0:25:30 > 0:25:36but seven weeks after the accident, she still only remembers a fraction.
0:25:36 > 0:25:43I don't remember getting hit or anything. I just remember lying on the floor.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46It's a day mum Jane will never forget.
0:25:46 > 0:25:53Emma's friend knocked on the door and said Emma had been hit by a car and gone through the windscreen.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58So I ran down the road and she was just coming round.
0:25:58 > 0:26:04She said to me, "What's happened? Have I died?" I said, "No, you're fine." But it was such a shock.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Every parent's worst nightmare.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Amazingly, Emma had no serious injuries.
0:26:10 > 0:26:17I thought I was really lucky because I didn't have anything wrong. I only had cuts and bruises.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Emma's learned an important lesson.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24I think it's made her more aware to take more care crossing the road.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Look once, look twice, look again.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30And it's good news for Bill Reed, the 93-year-old golfer
0:26:30 > 0:26:34who was whisked to hospital after a fainting spell.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39He was in hospital for three hours of checks when he had some good news.
0:26:39 > 0:26:45The doctor told me that I was able to go home and the last thing he said to me,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48"Keep carrying on playing golf."
0:26:48 > 0:26:50So I was very pleased to hear that.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52So how long is Bill hoping to keep playing for?
0:26:52 > 0:26:58I'm 93 now and for another 20 years I suppose I shall be playing golf!
0:27:01 > 0:27:03- Good day's work.- Yes.
0:27:03 > 0:27:09As for the northern bottlenose whale which stranded on the mud flats of Hayling Island,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12it was humanely put down once it beached again.
0:27:12 > 0:27:19The post-mortem revealed it had kidney failure. Experts believe it was caused by dehydration.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21It probably wasn't eating for several days.
0:27:21 > 0:27:27They get all their fluid from the food they eat. They don't drink.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30So if they're not eating, they dehydrate and this,
0:27:30 > 0:27:34as we know in humans, can cause disorientation
0:27:34 > 0:27:36and they have difficulty navigating.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41That's probably why the animal was in such a difficult location.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46The experts have learnt a lot for future rescues.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48This whale didn't make it,
0:27:48 > 0:27:53but experts believe there is reason to be optimistic.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59The number of strandings we're being informed of is definitely increasing,
0:27:59 > 0:28:04probably as a result of the population levels increasing, which is a good sign.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08I really hope that after the whaling that's gone on around Europe
0:28:08 > 0:28:15that we're now looking at the population levels starting to return to what they used to be.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Every time you hear a siren it means our emergency services
0:28:19 > 0:28:23are on their way to help someone in distress.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26Join me again next time for more Real Rescues.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:45 > 0:28:48E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk