This is a heroic moment a rescue team saved a whale calf stranded on a beach in Malaysia.

The struggling marine creature washed ashore on Kuala Baram Beach in Miri City, Sarawak State on Tuesday afternoon January 24.

The calf looked weak and could not return to the open sea because it was stuck in the shallow water, unable to generate the power needed to swim away.

Footage shows how seven rescue workers helped to drag the 14ft long mammal's body into a deeper part of water along the coastline so that it could return to the ocean.

Ahmad Nizam Sapaiee, Miri City Fire and Rescue Service Officer said: 'We received a report of a baby whale stranded around 12 noon, a number of members were immediately dispatched to the location.

'The evacuation process was also assisted by local residents. We are grateful that the whale can swim freely again.'

Ahmad said the rescue was 'a challenging operation' as staff were continually battered by the strong waves.

'However, the team persisted and after several more attempts, they managed to push the mammal out to sea,' he added.

Ahmad said the operation ended at around 12:50 pm local time and the whale was not injured.