The most recent effort to save a young humpback whale stranded just north of Yachats failed on Monday morning. With high tide rolling in, authorities said a veterinarian was preparing to euthanize the whale.

“It’s a very sad, tragic situation,” said Lisa Ballance from the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University. “There’s no way to spin this positively. I know the general public is heartbroken.”

“It’s hard to watch, hard to experience,” she said.

Ballance said the institute, federal and state agencies, police and others have been working to help the whale since it became stranded Saturday near San Marine State Park, just north of Yachats in Lincoln County.

On Monday morning, Ballance said rescuers attempted to slip a bridle on the whale and then attach a rope from the bridl

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