Hvaldimir, a beluga whale first spotted in Norway wearing a harness that sparked rumors of being a Russian “spy whale,” has been found dead in southern Norway’s Risavika Bay.

The whale’s body was discovered floating by a father and son and was retrieved by crane for examination.

Marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who monitored Hvaldimir for three years, expressed shock at the sudden death, noting no visible external injuries, The Guardian has reported.

Hvaldimir was first seen in 2019 near the Arctic, wearing a harness suggesting he had been trained, possibly by the Russian navy, and was known for his playful and tame behavior with humans.

Written by B.C. Begley