Marine officers battle to save a distressed whale tangled in buoys and netting after it was spotted off a popular Sydney beach
- Whale spotted swimming erratically in waters off Coogee beach on Sunday
- Onlookers saw the mammal drag along two bouys after it became tangled in net
- Sea crews were immediately dispatched to try and free the distressed whale
A distressed whale which was filmed dragging two bouys along the water after becoming tangled in its netting has been freed.
The whale was spotted swimming erratically off the coast at Coogee Beach, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, at 4pm on Sunday.
An onlooker along the coastline filmed the whale dragging two white bouys across the surface of the water.
It quickly became apparent the mammal had become caught in its netting and was struggling to break free.
The whale was spotted swimming erratically off the coast at Coogee beach, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, at 4pm on Sunday
Marine Area Command were immediately alerted before sea crews were sent out to try and free the whale
Marine Area Command were immediately alerted before sea crews were sent out to try and free the whale.
‘In a delicate and difficult operation, the officers managed to pull in close enough to the mammal to cut the ropes attached to both buoys and freed the whale,’ a New South Wales Police spokesperson said.
Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia, and National Parks and Wildlife have continued to monitor the movements of the whale amid concerns it might still be tangled.
It is understood the whale had been swimming towards Clovelly before it became stuck in the netting.
Humpback whales tend to swim up Australia’s eastern coastline during migration season between May and November.
Coogee is a popular spot for whale watching with the sea mammals frequently spotted in the water.
It is understood the whale had been swimming towards Clovelly before it became stuck in the netting