A group of beach-goers along with marine rescue crews in South Australia have jumped in to help save an injured whale in the waters off Port Willunga.

Drone footage captured the young whale stranded and distressed in the water, with several beach-goers jumping in to help the whale.

"Good Samaritans try and drag it out but it sort of keeps beaching itself and coming back," beach-goer Julian Susing told 9News.

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But their efforts proved to be in vain as the whale continued to struggle and bleed.

Another beach-goer by the name of Adam said it was "the hardest thing" to see.

"You were trying to set it off and it would just come spearing back to the beach," he told 9News.

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"It's very distressed and it's quiet emotional to watch it suffer," a person watching from the beach told 9News.

Surf lifesavers patrolled the coastline for any other members of its pod or sharks that may be attracted to the area.

Marine experts eventually took over the rescue mission, saying "we're trying to do the best we can but it seems like it's just not working".