Free to Swim Again, Humpback Rescued in West Coast Disentanglement Operation

Photo Credit: Pexels

A heartwarming collaboration between three NSRI bases and the South African Whale Disentanglement Network saw the rescue of an exhausted humpback whale, freed from its entanglements.

West Coast, South Africa (19 June 2025) – A juvenile Humpback whale entangled in fishing rope and trailing heavy flotation buoys has been successfully freed in a collaborative operation led by the South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) along the West Coast.

The rescue, which took place on Tuesday, 17 June, was launched after a Purse Seiner fishing vessel spotted the distressed Humpback whale north of Elands Bay. The crew wasted no time in reporting the entanglement, a vital first step that set in motion a coordinated response from three NSRI stations: Lamberts Bay (Station 24), St Helena Bay (Station 44), and Yzerfontein (Station 34).

Trained NSRI responders gathered at the Lamberts Bay base and launched the rescue craft Spirit of Saldanha, equipped with specialised SAWDN cutting gear. Supported by Telkom Maritime Radio Services and NSRI’s national operations centres, the team set out to locate the whale.

The search led them about 1 nautical mile offshore and 17 nautical miles south of Lamberts Bay, where they found the 8-metre juvenile struggling. Multiple thick wraps of fishing rope were tangled around its tail fluke and caudal peduncle, and the whale was dragging flotation buoys. It appeared fatigued, likely having been ensnared for some time.

To help stabilise the animal and improve buoyancy, rescuers attached additional buoys to gently restrict its movement, creating a safer environment for the complex cutting process that lay ahead.

“It was obvious we’d need to make several precise cuts to remove the rope safely,” said Johan Liebetrau, SAWDN team leader from NSRI Yzerfontein. “The whale had been through a lot, but we were determined to do everything we could.”

Coxswain Gerhard Visagie skilfully manoeuvred the rescue craft alongside the whale as the team carefully made their cuts. With each slice through the rope, they worked patiently and deliberately, all while keeping the whale’s safety, and their own, front of mind.

Remarkably, the young whale seemed to understand it was being helped, remaining relatively still throughout the operation. After eight strategic cuts, the final ropes and buoys fell away, and the whale was free.

In a moment of poetic joy, the team watched as the humpback swam off with strength and confidence, diving deep and disappearing into the open ocean.

“We tried to follow it to check on it one last time,” said Liebetrau, “but it didn’t hang around — it just powered off. That’s a good sign.”

All the retrieved rope and equipment were handed over to SAWDN and the Department of Environment for investigation and responsible disposal.

The Purse Seiner crew who first spotted and reported the entangled whale were praised for their quick thinking and accurate reporting. Their actions helped save a life.

Thanks to fast communication, highly trained responders, and a shared commitment to marine conservation, a young whale now has another chance to thrive in the wild.

The South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) was established in 2006 in order to manage entangled whales using specialised equipment and is comprised of trained volunteers. The teams work along the entire South African coastline.