A Free Willy story with no happy ending

This handout photo taken and releasedby the New Zealand Department of Conservation shows a woman and and three children tending to a pilot whale as they and others are hampered by rough seas in their effort to re-float 15 stranded pilot whales at Karikari beach in the far north of New Zealand. (AFP)
This handout photo taken and released by the New Zealand Department of Conservation shows two dead pilot whales as people tending to other whales are hampered by rough seas in their attempt to re-float 15 stranded pilot whales at Karikari beach in the far north of New Zealand.(AFP)
This handout photo taken and releasedby the New Zealand Department of Conservation shows a woman and and three children tending to a pilot whale as they and others are hampered by rough seas in their effort to re-float 15 stranded pilot whales at Karikari beach in the far north of New Zealand. (AFP)
This handout photo taken and releasedby the New Zealand Department of Conservation shows a woman and and three children tending to a pilot whale as they and others are hampered by rough seas in their effort to re-float 15 stranded pilot whales at Karikari beach in the far north of New Zealand. (AFP)
This handout photo taken and releasedby the New Zealand Department of Conservation shows a woman and and three children tending to a pilot whale as they and others are hampered by rough seas in their effort to re-float 15 stranded pilot whales at Karikari beach in the far north of New Zealand. (AFP)
A handout picture released by the Department of Conservation shows volunteers hoisting one of the stranded pilot whales to lift it on to a trailer at Karikari Beach to transport it to Maitai, New Zealand. (EPA)
A handout picture released by the Department of Conservation shows volunteers unloading a stranded pilot whale at Maitai, Waikato Bay, New Zealand. (EPA)
A handout picture released by the Department of Conservation shows volunteers rolling one of the stranded pilot whales on to a tarpaulin ready for lifting at Karikari Beach, New Zealand. (EPA)