Beached humpback whale swimming free off Gold Coast
A whale stranded on a Gold Coast beach has finally broken free of the sand and is swimming out to sea.
Several attempts to save the juvenile humpback failed after it first spotted near the shoreline at Palm Beach on Tuesday night.
He finally swam free around 8.15am on Thursday.
The whale forcefully expelled air from its blowhole as locals and relieved rescue workers let out cheers.
Experts from Sea World and the state environment department worked tirelessly to help save the whale.
They tried five times to attach a special harness to the marine mammal, in a delicate and dangerous operation.
It was a race against time to free the nearly 20-tonne animal as the tide started to go out.
Sea World marine animal supervisor Tacha Mulligan told Sunrise that the team are tired after the three-day operation, but also elated that it proved to be successful.
“We were running out time," Mulligan said. "This animal had been out of the water for over 36 hours."
She said the team at Sea World remain cautiously optimistic as they continue to monitor the whale.
Rescue crews work to free a humpback whale that was stranded on Palm Beach.
"It’s exhausted, he's been through an ordeal."
"[We] hope he will rest and recoup and continue his migration up to the Great Barrier Reef."
Last night, people who observed the attempted rescue of the mammal defied police instructions to not enter the water.
People power could not prevail. Source: 7News.
Around two dozen members of the public attempted to push the whale out to sea, however their attempts were futile and police are expected to review the situation in a bid to determine if any laws were broken.
However, it is unlikely any of the people will be charged.
Boats now following the whale as he keeps swimming away from shore @7NewsBrisbane
— Julie Korner (@JulieKorner) July 9, 2014
