A rare whale that was freed after being stranded at a popular Auckland harbour bay has re-beached a day later and died. The male shepherd’s beaked whale was spotted washed up on rocks near St Heliers and Ladies Bay on Tuesday morning and multiple calls were made by locals to the Department of Conservation (DoC). Whale and Dolphin Watch Facebook page founder Christine Rose told the Herald the whale had now washed up dead at Scott Pt, Hobsonville, 18km from where it was initially rescued. Volunteers from DoC and marine protection agency Project Jonah worked together for seven hours to float the whale to deeper water. Vets at the scene said the mammal’s breathing rate was “consistently high” and that it had bleeding from its tail. Despite best efforts by volunteers, the rare mammal re-beached and died. Photo / Supplied Project Jonah confirmed the news of the whale’s death at 9pm. “Local iwi - Te Kawerau ā Maki are with the whale, ensuring it continues to be respected and working with DoC around next steps.” Te Kawerau a Maki iwi Pou Taiao Environment Manager Ashleigh McDonald and a colleague had been at Scott Point overnight since they were told about the dead whale yesterday afternoon. “We slept in sleeping bags on the rocks to make sure we stayed by the whale’s side.” McDonald said the death of the whale is being treated as a “cultural experience and process”. “It’s a very rare whale and a taonga for us.” DoC wildlife response volunteer Shaun Lee, who was one of the first on scene when the whale stranded earlier in the week, today said he was sad to learn the whale didn’t make it. Lee stayed in the water by himself for an hour by the mammal’s side until volunteer crews from Project Jonah arrived. He later posted to social media about the encounter saying “yesterday was incredibly stressful, trying to keep this three-tonne shepherd’s beaked whale off the beach by myself while the tide was going out”. “Between dodging its powerful tail and big teeth, worrying about the whale, and communicating with experts, it was a short but serious physical and emotional challenge.” The shepherd's beaked whale was stranded for seven hours until volunteers managed to free it. Photo / Supplied - #richardthekayaker People took to Facebook to remark on Lee’s valiant actions. “Wow, Shaun, great commitment...great job.. thank you” while another posted, “You are astounding Shaun” and “great work Shaun. You are an inspiration.” Project Jonah spokeswoman Louisa Hawkes told RNZ shepherd’s beaked whales lived in the deep sea and would only come up to shore if something was wrong. She said shepherd’s beaked whales have only been spotted at sea four times, with fewer than 50 strandings recorded globally. Rose said it’s not uncommon for sick whales to seek refuge in the upper Waitematā Harbour. “Unfortunately, a lot of strandings end up in re-strandings then death.” She praised the efforts of Lee and other volunteers. “I’ve experienced a very similar, deeply personal encounter with a beaked whale and it’s upsetting when they end up dying... but it’s common. They did all they could do.” She said after the whale was floated out by pontoon to sea it was spotted under Devonport Warf “looking strong” before re-beaching in Hobsonville.