A humpback whale found dead this week off a Danish island has been identified as the animal released two weeks ago in a spectacular and controversial rescue effort after repeatedly becoming stranded off Germany's Baltic Sea coast, Danish authorities said Saturday.

It was not immediately clear if the whale was Timmy, the humpback whale that captivated Germany for weeks while getting stranded multiple times off the German coast.

Timmy- whose health had severely deteriorated after being stranded near Germany since March - was released on May 2.

Stranded whale rescued in Germany found dead in Denmark