Dramatic moment rescuers battle to free a thrashing 30ft whale tangled in fishing gear as two others from its pod refuse to leave the young animal’s side in South Africa

• The young Southern Right Whale got caught in the fishing nets six weeks ago 
• It was spotted four times but had always disappeared when rescuers arrived 
• On Friday they finally managed to cut away the nine ropes wrapped around it
• Two other whales had stayed by the youngster’s side throughout the rescue 

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A young whale that spent six weeks entangled in fishing gear was finally freed on Friday after volunteers cut away the netting. 

The Southern Right Whale, which measured 30ft long despite being an infant, had six ropes wrapped around its body and three around its tail when rescuers found it.

The ropes were attached to large red marker bouys as well as a number of flotation bouys and other netting.

It was spotted at least four times off Cape Town in South Africa before Sunday’s rescue, but had disappeared by the time emergency workers arrived.  

Emergency workers in South Africa freed a Southern Right Whale that had been entangled in fishing gear for six weeks

The whale had been spotted four times with bouys and ropes wrapped around its tail, but had always disappeared by the time emergency workers arrived

Francois Stapelberg of African Eagle Marine Eco Tours was the last to spot the whale around 2.30pm on Friday.

He sailed back to shore to drop his tourist passengers off before alerting the SA Whale Disentanglement Network and returning to the creature’s side. 

Volunteers rushed to the scene alongside the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) where they found the stricken whale in desperate trouble.

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It was flanked by two whales that had refused to leave despite the fact it had been struggling to swim and feed. The pair stayed close, even during the rescue efforts. 

The two teams spent 20 minutes cutting the whale free.

Mike Meyer, of the disentanglement network, said: ‘The whale was very tired indeed but the two others stayed by the side of the entangled whale which really added to the emotions.

Around 2.30pm on Friday a tourist boat spotted the whale and was able to lead emergency crews to the stricken animal, so they could cut the ropes away

Workers said there were two other whales which stayed beside the tangled youngster even while the rescue was carried out

‘We were determined to free the whale today as it had been spotted in Table Bay, Clifton and up the West Coast but had always eluded us when we had tried to rescue it before.

‘When both crews reached the whale it was evident why it had eluded previous searches as the fishing gear wrapped round its tail had six entanglements of very heavy fishing gear.

‘The weight of the gear had forced the tail to mostly lie under the water surface out of sight but in an operation lasting 20 minutes we were able to cut free all the entangled lines.

‘We then recovered all the ropes and netting gear and buoys for safe disposal while the disentangled whale and its two companions went happily on their way back out to sea again.

‘We are confident that the entangled whale will survive its ordeal’ he said.

Volunteers from the network, which has assisted 174 whales since 2006, had been searching for the whale since it was seen entangled in fishing gear in February.

Southern Right Whales live in the southern seas of the southern continent and number approximately 10,000.

They can grow up to 60ft long and weigh up to 80 tons.

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