Whale calf freed from shark net off Queensland coast
A whale calf caught in nets off the Queensland coast line has been freed.
The baby whale became tangled in shark nets about 100 metres off Surfers Paradise around 3pm on Tuesday.
Swimmers at the beach notified authorities and rescuers were sent out to the calf which was struggling to stay afloat.
As the rescue team moved in, a much larger humpback whale surfaced, causing the first rescue attempt to be aborted.
"It's a normal reaction, there's probably mum and possible dad nearby," Rob McDonald, from Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, said.
"Parental instincts just to make sure their calf's okay."
The rescuers tried a second time to reach the calf and managed to pull the net off.
Hundreds of people on the shoreline watched and cheered as the mammal swam away unharmed.
