Humpback rescued off Scotland


Yesterday, 24 May, Royal Navy divers with the assistance of British Divers Marine Life Rescue successfully freed a seven-metre humpback whale which had become caught in creel ropes, near Applecross east of the Isle of Skye.

The animal became ensnared after the ropes, which were tied to the sea-bed, wrapped around its tail leaving the the whale unable to pull away. A team of eight divers - including a number of officer trainees - from the Defence Diving School at Horsea Island, who were on exercise in the area, were called in to assist after the alarm was raised by a number of fishermen working in the area alerted the Coastguard.

The whale was eventually freed but there was some damage to the whale's tail, which was 3.5m girth, where it had struggled to pull at the lines. However, the whale was able to swim away and was monitored for a while to make sure it made its way out towards more open water. Lieutenant Richard Watson, officer in charge of the diver training exercise, said they were pleased with the results.

Congratulations to all involved in saving this whale - once again a job well done by all!

photographs (c) Lt Richard Watson