The whale seen in a viral video frolicking with two swimmers off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia, has died.
The whale, believed to be a baby humpback, was spotted Thursday swimming with two women off the coast of eastern Australia, according to CNN. The video of the encounter gained traction, receiving more than 1.2 million views.
However, local authorities announced that the whale had died on Saturday, saying the body had been spotted washed up on several beaches near the town of Lennox Head.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Marine Fauna Biologist, Dr Nahiid Ahmad, said an examination of the whale “confirmed that it was the same whale originally seen swimming with the two women” during the viral video.
The cause of the whales death has yet to be determined, but the NPWS said in a statement that it is working alongside the Humane Society International (HSI) and Marine Mammal Health and Response Team (MMHR) to “carry out a full post mortem of the whale which will help provide the most accurate information regarding the cause of death.”
