The minke whale was bleeding

The five metre-long whale became stranded at Longrock late on Friday afternoon.

It took 20 people more than four hours to free her and guide her to safety.

Local diving and marine life experts, along with the RSPCA and National Seal Sanctuary, helped manoeuvre the whale onto a makeshift pontoon, before she was towed to safety.

Rocks 'like coral'

Martin Gaunt from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said it was a stressful and nail-biting experience.

"It's desperate when you have been working so hard on something and you see, in the first instance, the minke going back on the rock.

"Without wanting to be too graphic, you can see the abrasions.

"The rocks out there are like coral. There's blood in the water and you wonder if this is going to work or not.

"When it did go, people's spirits soared."