First orca whale to be stranded in southeast U.S. in decades showed signs of illness

A killer whale, measuring more than 20 feet, died after beaching itself in Palm Coast, Fla., on Wednesday, authorities said. (Flagler County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Early Wednesday morning, someone spotted a rare sight for Florida: A killer whale over 20 feet long that had beached itself on the state's northern Atlantic coast.

The first orca whale to beach itself in the southeast U.S. in nearly 70 years died shortly afterward of an illness in Palm Coast, Fla., officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries division said.