The team that fought in vain to save the whale that swam up the River Thames hit out on Tuesday at opportunists trying to sell fake items alleged to have been used in the failed rescue attempt.

An unidentified owner placed a watering can for sale on the internet auction site eBay, with a starting price of £1 924, claiming it had been used to keep the whale wet and comfortable.

The distressed northern bottle-nosed whale captured hearts across the world by swimming up the River Thames through central London. But she had convulsions and died on a barge on Saturday during a last-ditch rescue attempt to return her to the North Sea.

The fake item, now removed from eBay, outraged the British divers marine life rescue voluntary organisation, which spent 36 hours and £100 000 trying to save the whale’s life.

They are selling their own, genuine, bright-red watering can online to raise money for future rescues.

The bidding had reached £9 300, with eight days remaining until the auction closes.

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Posted: 01|25|06 at 9:02 am. Filed under: UK News.