Posted by on February 26, 2005 at 21:04:25:
Rescuers Make Several Attempts Before Success
The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a report of a whale caught in a gill net Saturday afternoon, and lifeguards went in the water, made several attempts to rescue the animal and were finally successful.
Images: Amazing Whale Rescue
The whale was 25 to 30 feet long and was trapped in the net about 4 miles off Long Beach Harbor, at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
The Baywatch Lifeguard at Cabrillo crew made the 911 call.
When county firefighters arrived, there were multiple whale-watching boats at the scene, along with California Fish and Game officials, according to authorities involved in the rescue.
Lifeguards went into the water and made several attempts to free the animal before they were successful about an hour later.
One of the rescuers told NBC4 that the huge splash at the end of the rescue happened when the whale smacked its tail against his hand