Drone footage shows a 50-tonne sperm whale being escorted out to sea off the coast of Shetland

This astonishing drone footage shows a 50-tonne sperm whale being escorted out to sea off the coast of Shetland.

The whale, thought to be an adult male, measures around 45 feet and has no signs of injury.

It is believed to have got lost and ended up in waters much shallower than the species usually is found in.

It was around the coastline for 10 days and finally was maneuvered out with the help of several boats yesterday (Weds).

Islanders flocked to nearby Weasdale to admire the enormous creature.

Dad-of-three Gary Buchan, who filmed drone footage of it, said: "The whale has gone hopefully, never to be seen again.

"It was moved on the 11th day.

"They do travel up the east and west coast of Scotland.

"People in the know think this is a male because females don't tend to travel so far north.

"There weren't any significant signs of injury.

"The first couple of days was touch and go.

"It was in relatively shallow water - 8m of water, when they are usually found in 800m to 100m of water.

"It was a bit of a shock.

"The boats maneuvered around it, then just left it.

"They took it about three or four miles out to sea, into around 40m of water.

"One of the people on the boats said they saw it making a big dive, and it was never seen again.

"It was ten minutes from where I live."

Aquaculture technician Gary added: "I would say about 40 or 50 people a day came to see it.

"People were coming from all over Shetland.

"People from all over the world have been following it on social media."