Whale In The Rockaways Was Struck By Boat, Necropsy Shows

ROCKAWAY, QUEENS — The whale that washed up on a Rockaway beach this week died after being hit by a boat, officials said. A necropsy Wednesday found that the mammal had blunt force trauma consistent with a collision.

The 30-foot male that was between 2 and 5 years old is estimated to be around 20 tons.

The necropsy team also found bruises on two thirds of the whale's carcass — indicating that the whale was hit by a marine vessel, an AMCS spokeswoman said. The necropsy also found evidence of renal damage.

The whale was being buried on Rockaway Beach Wednesday afternoon.

Social media users mourned the death of the magnificent creature.

Photo via commons.wikimedia.org by user, russavia