Stranded humpback whale rescued from beach

A round-the-clock rescue effort has led to the saving of a humpback whale which had become stranded on a beach in Argentina.

The creature, which weighed around seven tons, was attended by dozens of people - with heavy machinery being drafted in to help dig it out of the sand.

It was originally freed enough to float away from the beach, but was too weak to swim and got washed back ashore by the tide.

A harness was then attached and it was pulled out to sea by a tugboat - and was able to swim away.