Scammers cash in on UK whale

2006-01-24 21:24

London - The team that fought in vain to save the whale that swam up the River Thames hit out on Tuesday at opportunists trying to sell fake items alleged to have been used in the failed rescue attempt.

An unidentified owner placed a watering can for sale on the internet auction site eBay, with a starting price of £1 924, claiming it had been used to keep the whale wet and comfortable.

The distressed northern bottle-nosed whale captured hearts across the world by swimming up the River Thames through central London.

But she had convulsions and died on a barge on Saturday during a last-ditch rescue attempt to return her to the North Sea.

The fake item, now removed from eBay, outraged the British divers marine life rescue voluntary organisation, which spent 36 hours and £100 000 trying to save the whale's life.

They are selling their own, genuine, bright-red watering can online to raise money for future rescues.

The bidding had reached £9 300, with eight days remaining until the auction closes.

"Here's your chance to own a symbol of hope, a piece of history and donate to a worthy cause all at the same time," the item's description reads.

Angry BDMLR director Tony Woodley said of the fake watering can: "It is simply false. There was only one watering can used in the rescue attempt and we have it in a safe.

"We have contacted eBay about this false sale and asked them to remove it," the volunteer said.

Other diverse memorabilia linked to the Thames whale have been offered for auction, with varying degrees of interest.

Photographs of the creature, river water, a cross-stitch pattern, a hosepipe used to fill a watering can and even cups, drinks cans and a banana skin used while contemplating the whale have been placed on eBay.

However, the actual watering can used by marine medic Faye Archell was beating them all.

She said: "This charity means so much to me and I feel privileged to have been involved in the entire rescue.

"Myself, along with medics and vets were with the whale when it died. I cannot tell you how proud I am of everyone who was involved."

The whale's bones are to be donated to Britain's Natural History Museum.

Results of a post-mortem examination into exactly how the whale died were to be released on Wednesday.

- AFP