Second whale rescue under way - after Byron Bay drama, one is now stuck on a Gold Coast beach

EXCLUSIVE PICS: Check out Australia’s second frantic whale rescue which is under way tonight - this time on a Gold Coast beach. .

Crowd of Palm Beach locals led by former Ironman Trevor Hendy try to push a juvenile Humpback Whale back into the ocean after it stranded itself on the Gold Coast.. Picture Glenn Hampson

EXCLUSIVE PICS: These are the first shots of a whale in distress on the Gold Coast’s Palm Beach tonight - Australia’s second whale rescue drama today.

A Palm Beach resident alerted police about 7pm - and a Queensland police spokesman confirmed Seaworld staff were attending along with the RSPCA.

FRANTIC RESCUE: A crowd of Palm Beach locals on the Gold Coast try to push a juvenile Humpback whale back into the ocean after it stranded itself tonight. Picture: Glenn Hampson

It’s unknown at this stage if it’s the humpback whale which was freed earlier today after becoming entangled in fishing net south of Byron Bay, about 160km south of Brisbane. However, it’s understood the Byron whale was an adult or close to it, and the one trapped at Palm Beach is a calf.

A Gold Coast Bulletin photographer at the scene says the junior humpback is in the shallows at Palm Beach - in about 30 centimetres of water - and more than 20 people are in the water trying to get it back out to sea.

Queenland police appealed tonight for people to stay away as crowds would only distress the whale.

RESCUE EFFORT: Palm Beach locals working to save a juvenile humpback whale stranded on Palm Beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Authorities at the scene were settling in to monitor it overnight and felt the whale was in good condition - but local Shane Pierce, at the scene, said it felt as though the whale had shark bites.

Another Gold Coaster at the scene, Adam Wynn said: “It’s sort of sad - but also pretty cool. There’s a crowd there but they don’t want people getting too close.”

Sea World Gold Coast staff are monitoring the situation from a boat in the water and are going to stay overnight.

A Sea World spokesperson said it appeared in good condition but they don’t know how it’s ended up marooned on the beach.

EARLIER

Fisheries crews have successfully freed a distressed humpback whale that was entangled in a fishing net south of Byron Bay.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service crews and Queensland Fisheries officers arrived earlier today at The Pass, south of Byron Bay, to rescue the whale which had rope tangled tightly around its tail and dorsal fin.

Workers are helping a whale off Byron Bay that has reportedly snagged its tail in a shark net. #9News pic.twitter.com/sOa6Rd3THK

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) July 8, 2014

Entangled whale now off Wategos with juvenile present (not tangled).. Tangled tightly around tail and dorsal fin - could be tough to remove.

— Environment+Heritage (@OEHmedia) July 8, 2014

National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman Lawrence Orel said the 12 metre whale was freed near Cape Byron at about 3.45pm after entanglement crews spent an hour and a half trying to free the animal.

He said another whale was also freed on the southern NSW coast in Narooma this afternoon.

“The prognosis for both animals is good, we expect there will be no lasting effects of either entanglement.”

“While we suspected it was a female and a half, reports from the guys on the water suggest the animal was visited by other whales but it was not a mother calf pair.”

Mr Orel said there were ideal conditions on the water for the rescue operation.

“It was very successful given the inherent risks associated with these types of operations, where you’re dealing with an animal that’s up to 30 or 40 tonnes that’s agitated and distressed.”

“Now the whale has as good chance as any to continue on with their lives.”

EARLIER

Earlier today the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage said the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was assessing situation and asked locals not to enter water or approach whale.

It is understood the humpback was caught off the coast from Tyagarah when it headed back toward Byron Bay.

There were fears if the whale wasn’t rescued before dark it would be left tangled all night.

”It’s just not safe to be trying to deal with a large whale that’s entangled and agitated in the dark,” Mr Orel said.

Whale update: Qld Fisheries on way to the entangled whale off Byron Bay. @abcnews pic.twitter.com/5ujO24hcpz

— Tom Forbes (@tomforbes72) July 8, 2014

“We are reminding people to stay well away, particularly if it’s a fresh entanglement because the animal can become very agitated,” he said

“Our crews will not approach the whale until it’s safe to do so.”

Crews have arrived at The Pass, preparing to launch to rescue whale entangled south of Byron Bay @PRIME7NthCoast pic.twitter.com/GIprFIUi7a

— Amy Phillips (@Amy_Phillips10) July 8, 2014

Mr Orel said the whale which is in distress is being shadowed by a Marine Parks boat with National Parks staff on board.

“The last report received at 1.03pm indicated the whale was off Cape Byron and moving in a southerly direction,” he said.

Mr Orel said the whale appeared to be moving further offshore.