Distressing footage has emerged of a dead humpback whale, beached off Dangerpoint, South Africa.

The video, shot on September 19, shows migrating humpback whales and explains the risks such a voyage entails.

The filmer explained that he believes the whale beached itself after swallowing a large amount of manmade rubbish.

"Investigations have begun to find out why this whale beached itself resulting into its death however fingers generally point towards human interference," he wrote.