Footage of a stranded minke whale on the Long Beach peninsula in Washington state, USA on May 28.

"The whale had died long before washing in and had been drifting out at sea for some time," the filmer wrote online.

"Long enough in fact, that due to decomposition, gasses started to build up inside of the animal."

"Once the animal hit the beach the pressure from the gasses, combined with the immense weight of the animal, pushed its diaphragm outside of its mouth," he added.

"A team from Portland State University and the Seaside Aquarium will gather together on Wednesday morning to preform a necropsy."

Visitors to the Long Beach peninsula got the rare chance to see a small Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) washing ashore. The whale had died long before washing in and had been drifting out at sea for some time. Long enough in fact, that due to decomposition, gasses started to build up inside of the animal. Once the animal hit the beach the pressure from the gasses, combined with the immense weight of the animal, pushed its diaphragm outside of its mouth (this is what you are seeing in the photographs). A team from Portland State University and the Seaside Aquarium will gather together on Wednesday morning to preform a necropsy.