Rescuers free whale calf caught in nets for one hour

Coastguard and authorities have successfully freed a whale caught in nets off the southeast Queensland coas this morning.

FILE: A whale is tangled in nets off the Noosa coast. Photo Trevor Long

A BABY whale has been freed from nets off the coast of Noosa after being stuck for one hour.

Noosa Coastguard received the distress call about 8.30am from a resident at Little Cove who could see the ordeal unfolding from their unit.

Radio officer Ollie Morozow said his team alerted government agencies and surf life savers.

"The resident was quite upset and we had to calm them down to get a clear story of what was happening," he said.

Mr Morozow said the coastguard headed out to the nets to keep tourists away while the authorities freed the whales.

"We alerted people to the fact that this was happening and asked them to keep away," he said.

"While it's whale season boats need to stay 100m away from whales and jet skis must stay 300m away."

About 9.45am the whales were freed by three rescuers who used a large cutting instrument to sever the net.

The whales appeared to be injury free as they swam away.

Originally published as Rescuers free whale calf caught in nets for one hour