Beached Whale Found In Queens Was Malnourished

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Necropsy tests showed the 60-foot beached whale that died in Breezy Point was not injured or killed by humans.

The animal is part of an endangered species known as finback or fin whales.

It was severely emaciated but was clinging to life when it was discovered stranded on the bay side.

Volunteer firefighters sprayed water on the whale as it sat halfway out of the water. It drifted out of sight at high tide and came ashore dead Thursday.

Marine officials said Friday the whale was malnourished and had lesions in its stomach and kidneys.

The cause of death won't be completed until testing comes back on tissue samples.

The whale is being buried.

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