Sea World whale rescuers save second stricken humpback in a week

Rescuers have successfully completed a gruelling two-day operation to save a stricken humpback whale off the Northern NSW coast. WATCH THE VIDEO

Sea World whale rescuers have performed their second dramatic liberation of a stricken humpback off the northern NSW coast in a week.

Members of the Sea World Foundation rescue team on Friday completed a gruelling two-day operation to free a humpback heavily entangled in rope and buoys.

The snared whale was first sighted on 13 June off Burrewarra Point, near Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast.

Sea World whale rescuers have performed their second dramatic liberation of a stricken humpback off the Northern NSW coast in a week. Picture: ORRCA

A rescue mission was launched on Thursday after the animal was spotted off Sandon Point in northern NSW.

With daylight rapidly fading, the Sea World rescuers found the whale off Angourie and deployed a satellite tag to allow them to continue the mission on Friday.

After successfully tracking the whale, they spent three hours removing the rope and buoys to allow it and a companion humpback to continue their northern migration.

The operation took two days. Picture: Sea World

Sea World Rescue Foundation skipper Andy Mulville said it was one of the more complicated rescue operations, with the rope entangled tight around the whale - pinning its pectoral fins to its body and restricting its tail movements.

“The team did an amazing job working together to loosen the rope using our specialised cutting knives before we grappled onto the rope of the buoys and used the force of our boat to pull these off and free the whale,” he said.

It was the second operation to save a stricken whale in a week. Picture: Sea World

“As soon as that last bit of gear come off the whale it took off swimming freely at 6 knots. It was incredible to see that reaction, and know our work out on the water saved it from a perilous death.”

The rescue followed that last week of another humpback which had become entangled in ropes and buoys off the Victorian coast and dragged the gear all the way to Fingal Head on the Tweed Coast.