Heartbreaking moment a whale gets stuck in nets at a popular beach

Heartbreaking moment a humpback whale gets stuck in shark nets at a popular beach – as the giant mammal desperately tries to escape

  • 10 metre humpback whale trapped in nets off Gold Coast beach has been saved
  • Whale became tangled in shark nets off Main Beach on Thursday morning
  • Rescue took several hours for Fisheries Queensland and Sea World crews
  • Whale was finally freed just before midday and only suffered superficial injuries 

A desperate rescue effort has saved a 10-metre humpback whale trapped in nets off a popular Gold Coast beach.

The whale became tangled in shark nets off Main Beach on Thursday morning. 

A rescue crew spent several hours at the scene battling to free the giant mammal.

A 10 metre whale became trapped in shark nets off Main Beach on the Gold Coast on Thursday

Sea World was also involved in the delicate rescue, which ended shortly before midday when the whale was finally set free.    

‘The whale entanglement was reported at 7.50 this morning by Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol Gold Coast Regional Manager Rob McDonald,’ a Fisheries Queensland spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.

‘The whale has since been released and the report from our people are that the whale only suffered superficial injuries.

‘Since 2006, MART crews have successfully released all but two whales that were tangled in nets.’

Fisheries Queensland and Sea World battled to rescue the trapped humpback whale

Fisheries Queensland and Sea World battled to rescue the trapped humpback whale

A Sea World spokesman told the Gold Coast Bulletin the rescue got underway at around 10am.

Dramatic live aerial footage showed the whale thrashing about in the water in a desperate attempt to escape as workers aboard a Sea World vessel tried to release it.

More details are expected to be released about the rescue later on Thursday.

The Queensland Shark Control Program has a 24 hour toll-free hotline number for reporting entangled animals, 1800 806 891.

A Fisheries Queensland said the humpback whale only suffered superficial injuries

A Fisheries Queensland said the humpback whale only suffered superficial injuries

Sea World was involved in the frantic effort to save the 10 metre whale off Main Beach

Sea World was involved in the frantic effort to save the 10 metre whale off Main Beach

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk