A large crowd gathered to see the carcass of a Humpback whale which washed up at White Rock Beach, south of Vancouver in Canada.

The mammal, which measured 8 to 10 metres long, was found on the shore on Tuesday morning and had reportedly been alive at first but later died on the sand.

Onlookers, including children, were both saddened and awed by the sight of the giant creature.

Although grey whales wash ashore in this part of Canada, it is very rare for a Humpback whale to get stranded there.

Marine Biologists have conducted a necropsy to find out the cause of death and have identified the animal as a youngster.

The whale had lacerations and blood on it and was found along with some fishing wire, suggesting its death may have been caused by getting tangled up in the wire.

It is unclear what will happen to the whale's body.