A 50ft whale was washed up dead on Dawlish Warren’s Red Rock beach overnight on Wednesday.

Early reports suggested the poor creature had been struck by a ship on the French side of the English Channel about a month ago.

It survived the collision and continued with swim with its pod before dying of exhaustion.

The massive bulk of the lifeless mammal – believed to be a minke or fin whale – soon drew sightseers to wonder at the amazing spectacle this morning.

One witness said from the scene: ‘It’s an incredible sight. I’ve never seen anything like it.

‘It’s quite humbling and sad to see such a magnificent thing without any life to it.’

Coastguards and marine agency officials were among the first to the area where walkers were asked to keep a respectable distance from the decomposing body.

Plans were under way to clear the site of its majestic visitor.