A beached whale is back at sea after being refloated this afternoon.

About 50 people worked frantically this morning to help a stranded whale on Ohope Beach in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

People rush to help the stranded whale. Photo: Whakatane Beacon.

A three-metre long whale, thought to be a young pygmy sperm whale, became stranded at the high tide mark.

Marine mammal medics led the rescue effort.

Ohope residents along with tourists and visitors to the area lent a hand and ferried buckets of water to keep the whale rehydrated.