A 50ft whale stranded in shallow water was helped back to the sea in Indonesia.

A fisherman found the 50ft (15m) whale trapped near the village of Sambinasi Tengah in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday, December 8.

Footage shows a group of anglers alongside the whale, with some splashing water on the sea creature. It was successfully guided back to the open sea on Tuesday.

Arief Mahmud, head of the NTT Natural Resources Conservation Agency (KSDA), said the mammal rescue involved several groups, including NTT BBKSDA officers, Riung Police, TNI, local government, and the community, who used motorboats owned by residents.

The interim examination results by veterinarian Fransiska Romana from the Ngada Regency Animal Husbandry Service stated that the whale's general condition was still normal.

He added: 'Vital signs were in good, bursts every five to nine minutes were present, and the whale's eye response was good. The condition of the tail and right fin was also fine. However, the left fin could not be moved.'

Local media reported there were some 30 round wounds along the whale's back.

Ngada Police Chief AKBP Fajar, through Public Relations Sukandar, said various aspects may have caused the aquatic mammal's stranding.

Sukandar added: 'The cause of the whale being stranded in the sea waters of Sambinasi Tengah Village is thought to be due to several factors such as aging, illness, being lost, not being able to eat, losing direction, strong sea currents and also being attacked by other sea predators.'

The type of whale is under further identification but Indonesia is home to several species of whales but sperm whales are the most common. They can grow up to 67ft (20.5m)