Eleven crew members embarked on a six-hour mission to save the calf snared in 150 metres of 12mm nylon rope off the Far South Coast on Tuesday. 

The crew did not give up on following the whale south after it was spotted by a helicopter crew off Depot Beach on Monday.  

Three boats were on the water on Tuesday monitoring the condition of the calf and its mum. 

Despite not being able to get on the water on Monday because of bad weather, the crew persisted on Tuesday morning and achieved its goal of freeing the whale.

The story pulled a lot of heart strings due to the fact it was a juvenile mammal, which was swimming back to Antarctica.

NPWS crew member Ian Kerr led the mission and said it was exhausting for the crew, not just the whale. 

Using a technique from the harpooning era, floats were attached to the calf to slow it down so the team was able to cut the rope off. 

The extremely thought-out and well-planned rescue demonstrated the amount of experience the rescuers had. 

Although five per cent of the rope was left on the baby whale, Mr Kerr said the crew had done the best they could. 

It is hoped by all that the rest of the rope will dislodge itself. 

The chances of the endangered whale’s survival was increased because of the team’s persistence.

On page 3, we bring you their story, a gripping first-person account from Mr Kerr.

Congratulations to the team who worked overtime in the best interests of the whale and its mum. 

In Spring 2014, a young humpback whale died on route to Antarctica and washed up at North Head.

The story attracted international attention.

That summer another whale was taken by sharks off Broulee.

Whales are a major part of the Eurobodalla and Far South Coast’s tourist economies.

Visitors come from around the world to watch the annual migration north in autumn and again south in spring. 

 – Emily Barton