According to the captain of the sea port and commander of the Maritime Police (PM) of Viana do Castelo, Sameiro Matias, the animal hit the coast, on 25 February, around 5.42pm, still with "some signs of life”.

Sameiro Matias said that "under the guidance of a biologist at CRAM - Centre for the Rehabilitation of Marine Animals, in Quiaios, in Figueira da Foz, attempts were made to remove the mammal, which ended up dying on the beach stones".

The work to remove the corpse of the whale began at about 9am with the participation of the PM, five operatives and two vehicles of the Sapadores Firefighters from Viana do Castelo, and means from the Municipal Services of Viana do Castelo (SMSBVC).