Hopes for the survival of a humpback whale who has been stranded off the Baltic coast of Germany for a week are starting to fade, as the whale’s breathing frequency slowed over the weekend.

“The whale must be freed very quickly now if it is to have any chance at all,” Greenpeace marine biologist Thilo Maack told the German Press Agency on Sunday.

The whale, named ‘Timmy’ after the Timmendorfer beach where he was first found stranded, is around 15 metres long and weighs an estimated 30 tonnes.

Although managing to free himself twice over the weekend, the whale ended up stranded again, despite several rescue attempts.

Greenpeace, having participated in the rescue endeavours, , documented the animal’s deteriorating condition and profound distress.

According to the NGO, the animal suffered from skin irritation and had fishing equipment ensnared in its mouth.

Talking to German state media, experts said that, with Timmy’s condition worsening, the chances of the animal surviving the stranding are diminishing.

Home in all oceans, humpback whales are not native to the Baltic Sea. They have the longest migrations of any mammal on the planet, with some species travelling vast distances. The animals can reach lengths of up to 19 metres and weights of up to 40 tonnes, with females typically being larger than males.