Barge rescue attempt for Timmy the whale in Germany gets go-ahead

German officials have given the green light for a fresh attempt to rescue a humpback whale that has been stranded off the country’s Baltic Sea coast for more than a month.

The 13-metre (40ft) whale’s struggle for survival has gripped Germany since the creature beached on a sandbank near the city of Lübeck, far from its natural habitat.

After several initial rescue attempts failed, two entrepreneurs came forward to finance a new effort that will involve loading the whale on to a special barge and carrying it out to deeper waters.

Till Backhaus, the environment minister for the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, said two vets had examined the whale and believed it was fit to be transported.

After his announcement, rescuers in diving suits could be seen next to the whale in shallow waters near the island of Poel with the barge close by.

The creature, named Timmy by some of the German press, was first spotted stuck on a sandbank on 23 March near Lübeck before freeing itself and then becoming stuck again several times.

The whale has been stranded for more than a month. Photograph: Philip Dulian/AP

At the start of April, officials gave up on Timmy, saying they believed he could not be saved. But after an outcry the authorities were persuaded to let the entrepreneurs come up with a rescue plan.

Some scientists have strongly criticised the decision to allow further rescue bids, believing they will be too risky for the whale and estimating the chances of success as low.

Backhaus said it was his “absolute priority” that the whale be rescued and he was trying to “do everything possible to help”.

The saga has sparked a media frenzy, with non-stop coverage from TV channels, online outlets and social media influencers, but has also led to angry spats and conspiracy theories.