Leviathan of the deep end: Humpback whale the size of a London bus dies after beaching itself in a seaside swimming pool

• The humpback was beached in the pool by Newport Beach, near Sydney, Australia, while heading to warmer climes
• At 32 feet from tail to snout, this leviathan of the deep is the exact same length as a London bus
• It is unclear whether he was abandoned by his pod or simply couldn't keep up because of age or injury
• It is now a nervous wait to see if the next high tide will rise enough to reclaim his corpse back to its Pacific heartland
• If not, wildlife authorities must find a way to remove the carcass, which is beginning to emit a putrid smell

By Matt Blake

PUBLISHED: 10:35 GMT, 1 August 2012 | UPDATED: 13:52 GMT, 1 August 2012

Yards from the crashing surf of his ocean home, a humpback whale lies dead in the glassy waters of a public pool.

The sea monster's body washed up on this seaside swimming basin by Newport Beach, near Sydney, Australia, after dying on its journey north to warmer climes.

But where waves once splashed and sprayed against his powerful frame, ripples now lap with poignant tranquility.

And at 32-feet from tail to snout - the exact same length as a London double-decker bus - he is, without doubt, a leviathan of the deep end.