Published on
21/05/2026 - 11:00 GMT+2
Time is of the essence: the whale off the Danish coast is in danger of exploding. The dead animal was originally supposed to be brought ashore, but Denmark’s environment and nature agency and the coastal rescue service have now decided to tow the carcass out into the open sea as quickly as possible. Timmy’s carcass has become increasingly bloated in recent days because of the putrefaction gases in the body.
A stretch of beach on Anholt has been cordoned off over a wide area. The dead whale is drawing crowds of onlookers and journalists. A resident of Anholt told reporters from Danish TV channel TV2 Østjylland that the dead humpback whale Timmy had moved by around 10 metres on Wednesday.
The Danish authorities’ plan is as follows: they intend to pull the carcass into open water using ropes to prevent an uncontrolled explosion near the shore. The operation is not without danger; there is a risk that the carcass could tear apart or explode, putting the emergency crews at risk.
