This footage shows wildlife rescuers and bystanders working together to push a stranded whale back into the ocean after several failed attempts where it kept trying to swim back to shore.

Local fishermen had reportedly spotted the creature when the tide went out on a beach in Putian, in Fujian Province, south-eastern China on the morning of October 18.

They immediately reported the case to local police and officers were dispatched to the scene. When the officers arrived, they found the stranded whale unable to move, but its vital signs were stable, and its tail was still flapping.

The police and nearby residents made several attempts to push the whale back into the water, but they were unsuccessful. Soon after, a maritime rescue team arrived with a rescue boat. They used ropes tied to the whale's tail and, after 20 minutes, managed to tow it back to deeper waters.

However, the plan backfired as Weng Weinan, a police officer from Putian City Pinghai Police Station, explained: 'We kept pushing it towards the sea, but it kept swimming towards the shore. Subsequently, the police contacted an animal rescue organisation for assistance.

'While waiting, on-site personnel pulled the whale back into the sea to prevent it from swimming to the beach. In the afternoon, staff from the animal rescue arrived at the scene to conduct a physical examination and provide treatment to the whale.

'After on-site assessment, it was identified as an adult male Baird's beaked whale, with a length of over 13 feet and weighing approximately 880 lbs.'

Wang Benming, a staff member of the animal rescue, said: 'It was a relatively large individual. We realised that it was impossible to capture it and bring it ashore for treatment. We could only handle it in the water.'

After confirming its improved condition, rescue personnel once again used a boat to tow the whale back to deeper waters. The boat followed at a distance to ensure its safe return to the sea and in the last attempt it was confirmed that the whale had headed back out to sea.

Video footage shows the moments the rescuers work together to get the whale back in the ocean. Local authorities continue to track and observe the area where the whale got stranded, and currently, there is no sign of it in the vicinity.

The Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) is a species of beaked whale found in deep ocean waters of the North Pacific Ocean. These elusive marine mammals are known for their elongated, dolphin-like bodies, prominent beaks, and distinct dorsal fins. They have a dark bluish-black or grayish-black colouration and can grow up to lengths of 39 to 43 feet, making them one of the largest beaked whale species.