A PORPOISE has died after becoming stranded in the mud near the Orwell Bridge.

Ipswich Star: The porpoise is believed to have been alive when it got stuck in the mud but died before it could be rescued.The porpoise is believed to have been alive when it got stuck in the mud but died before it could be rescued. (Image: Archant)

The female porpoise is believed to have been alive when she became stuck in the mud just off the Strand in Wherstead, near the Orwell Bridge.

Emma Webb of British Divers Marine Life Rescue was involved in recovering the dead porpoise.

Miss Webb, the area co-ordinator for Suffolk and north Essex, believes the porpoise, which is just over 1.6m long, to be relatively old due to a number of scars on its body but says it was “in pretty good condition” before its death and was almost certainly alive before it became stranded.

“It was a bit skinny but there was no sign of any injury,” she said.

“I think it was up feeding and just got caught out by the tide – we’ve certainly had that happen before.

“I don’t think it’d been dead for long when we got to it.”

The porpoise has been taken to London Zoo, where it will be given a post-mortem.