Free Willy! Stranded Pilot Whale guided back to sea in Benalmádena

A long‑finned pilot whale stranded on Fuente de la Salud beach was guided back to deeper waters by locals and emergency services

Well, it wasn’t an orca whale like the movie but Benalmádena had its own ‘Free Willy’ moment on New Year’s Day. A long‑finned pilot whale, around eight metres long, became stranded on Fuente de la Salud beach near the marina.

Local people were the first to spot the whale and quickly called the authorities. Benalmádena Local Police, the Guardia Civil, and Seprona, the wildlife protection unit, rushed to the scene to monitor the situation. Some brave locals carefully waded into the shallow surf to help guide the whale back into deeper water, working alongside the emergency teams.

The whale stayed near the shore for several hours, struggling in the shallow water, before finally swimming off on its own and leaving the beach clear. Strandings like this are rare along the Costa del Sol, but they can happen, especially if a whale is sick, confused, or separated from its group. Authorities remind beachgoers to alert the emergency services and keep their distance if they see a stranded animal.

In the end, seeing the whale make it back to the sea was a lovely way for locals to start the new year.

Image 1: CC/ gailhampshire
Image 2: X/ @gux_b