Stranded Whale Dies in Malaysian Waters

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- An injured whale died Sunday after beaching itself in the same spot off Malaysia's coast for the second time in as many days, news reports said Monday.

The body of the 78-foot-long gray Bryde's whale was spotted by fishermen early Sunday in shallow waters off Gaya Island in Malaysia's eastern state of Sabah, the New Straits Times and The Star newspapers reported.

The bruised and bleeding whale had been found in the same spot at low tide on Friday, prompting an hours-long rescue effort that ended in divers helping it swim away. The whale was assumed to have survived its ordeal because marine officers did not see it again before Sunday.

Dr. Nicholas Pilcher, a marine biologist in Sabah, told the Times he was not surprised by the whale's death.

"A perfectly healthy whale won't beach itself. There was already something wrong with it _ we will never know what," said Pilcher, who was involved in Friday's rescue attempt.

Calls to the Fisheries Department in Sabah went unanswered early Monday.