A minke whale stranded along the River Thames is to be put down, rescuers have said. Crowds gathered at Teddington Lock in south-west London on Monday to catch a glimpse of the animal, thought to be between 10ft (3m) and 13ft (4m) long. But the whale is now due to be put to sleep as it would not survive on its own in the sea, Julia Cable, national co-ordinator at the British Divers Marine Life Rescue service, said. A Minke whale near Teddington Lock (Yui Mok/PA) “The vets are here from London Zoo. “They will give the whale a large anaesthetic dose which will put it to sleep,” Ms Cable said.