More than 20 pilot whales came ashore on a South Florida beach, triggering a daylong effort to rescue them.

Five were saved by Saturday night and were transported to Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Institute for

rehabilitation.

The rest had died of natural causes or had to be humanely euthanised, said a spokesperson for the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service.

The pod of 22 whales came ashore on Saturday morning at Avalon Beach State Park in St Lucie County.