WHALE BLOWN UP AT SAN ONOFRE!

Gory end at San Onofre
A beached whale was blown up in front of horrified children yesterday after rescuers failed to get it back into deep water. Onlookers watched as explosives were strapped behind the 30 foot Southern Right whale's head and detonated, killing it instantly. Many of them shouted insults at rangers as the whale died. Later, officials at San Onofre defended the way the beast was killed on the beach at Old mans. Hal Dairywimple, of the State Parks, said explosives were recommended for such cases by the International Whaling Commission. Other options, such as shooting the whale or injecting it with drugs, were considered riskier and more painful for the animal. Dozens of local surfers and rescue workers had spent the night trying to get the whale back into the sea. But by daybreak the high tide had washed it further up the beach, where it became stuck on sand and was clearly suffering, officials said. The whale was either sick or had just became trapped.