Rescue attempt fails to save beached whale

A female fin whale opens its mouth as it lies stranded and alive on the beach at Carlyon Bay on Aug. 13, 2012, in St. Austell, England. The stranded whale was spotted by holidaymakers just after 5pm and initially rescuers had hoped to re-float it. However the 60 foot fin whale, a globally endangered species and the second largest animal on the planet, sadly died on the beach.

Credit: Matt Cardy/Getty Images