“I went in to assist them, but sadly, it was already dead by the time we reached it.
“[It was] truly heartbreaking to witness.”
Cordebar contacted the Department of Conservation (DoC) straight away to report the stranding.
The incident has already gained traction with a flurry of people coming forward on social media to express their condolences.
Project Jonah said it was aware of the death but was not involved as the orca had already died.
A Conservation Department ranger was at the scene, the Project Jonah spokesperson said.
DoC has been approached for comment.
In March, a rare Shepherd’s beaked whale was freed after being stranded by St Heliers Bay in Auckland, before it beached and died a day later near Hobsonville’s Scott Point.