A wayward minke whale that had captivated onlookers for days in Long Beach has died. The 24-foot long whale, likely in its teens, washed ashore early Sunday morning, according to the Marine Mammal Care Center.

A sad fate for the whale that quickly became the talk of the town in Long Beach last week. The estimated 25-foot Minke died and washed ashore.

The whale was discovered dead Sunday morning, and experts were examining the body for potential injuries or illnesses.