Animal rescue personnel removed the carcass of a baby whale that got stranded in the ocean surf of Spring Lake today. The whale, which appeared to have beached after getting caught on wave-breaking rocks nears the coastline, was removed with a forklift and disposed of at a nearby landfill.

Bystanders report that lifeguards and other rescue personnel attempted to return the baby whale to the water before it succumbed to its injuries.

Whale strandings, also known as beachings, happen every now and then and are extremely dangerous to whales, who can die from dehydration, collapsing under their own weight, or drowning if they don’t receive immediate help.