WATCH: Navy divers save humpback whale entangled in fish lines
HEROIC navy divers have saved the life of a humpback whale entangled in fish lines.
Watch the moment Navy Seals free a Whale
Sailors on board a fishing boat filmed the tense moments as the team of frogmen struggle to save the 20ft calf’s life.
As the dramatic footage shows, the whale appears to be breathing with increasing difficulty as it throws regular sprays from its blow-hole in the rolling swell.
Navy divers have saved the life of a humpback whale entangled in fish lines
When we arrived at the scene, it transpired the whale was having difficulty breathing, so rescue divers launched into the sea
Time and again, the terrified whale tries to dive but the heavy ropes wrapped around its body only stretch tight.
The divers, anxious not to scare the whale further, manage to approach from behind and quickly get to work cutting the lines so that it can eventually swim free.
Sailors on board a fishing boat filmed the tense moments
Chilean Navy officials posted the film on their official Facebook page this week after revealing details of the rescue.
As the dramatic footage shows, the whale appears to be breathing with increasing difficulty
According to a statement from the Armade De Chile, the mayor of Lennox Island, close to the southernmost tip of the country near Cape Horn, had alerted naval officials about the whale.
The terrified whale tries to dive but the heavy ropes wrapped around its body only stretch tight
Fisherman aboard the Lanco had spotted the whale but by the time the Chilean naval vessels, Hallef and Archangel, arrived, the animal was having breathing difficulties.
In a translated Facebook message, the Armada de Chile says: “When we arrived at the scene, it transpired the whale was having difficulty breathing, so rescue divers launched into the sea and, in a risky move, broke the ropes that stopped the cetacean swimming before being finally released.”