Gold Coast whale hero’s nervous wait for $30,000 fine
A Gold Coast diver who heroically rescued a young humpback whale from shark nets in front of a crowd of onlookers this week, only to face an investigation and possible fine, will learn his fate as early as today.
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THE diver who heroically freed a whale from shark nets off the Gold Coast only to spark an investigation by the Department of Fisheries could learn his fate as soon as today.
The Currumbin local known as Django Hopkins made headlines on Tuesday when he dived in to the water off Burleigh Heads to free a young humpback whale tangled in shark nets.
While his brave actions resulted in cheers from the crowd watching on Burleigh Hill, it brought a stern rebuke from authorities, with provisions for fines of almost $30,000.
An investigation by the Department of Fisheries is nearing its conclusion, with a decision on whether or not to impose the fines expected as soon as today.
Django himself, who had been on his way out to a popular dive site when he came across the stricken whale, yesterday said he didn’t think twice about coming to the aid of the marine mammal.
“I was going straight in. I’m not scared of it, to be honest,” he told media.
“I wouldn’t recommend everyone go and do it, its highly dangerous.”
His partner Stacey Thomas told The Courier-Mail she was proud of his actions, despite the threat of a large fine.
“I wasn’t surprised that he did it because he is the biggest animal lover there is,” she said.
While a steep fine might put a dent in his heroics, two public fundraising campaigns have already raised about $10,000 in less than two days.
If the money raised exceeds any total fine, the rest of the money will be donated to charity.
Originally published as Gold Coast whale hero’s nervous wait for $30,000 fine
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