Marine Rescue Ulladulla in whale rescue attempt

7:18 AM Thu 22 Sep 2011 GMT

'Marine Rescue Ulladulla in Whale Rescue Attempt' Marine Rescue NSW Click Here to view large photo

Volunteers from Marine Rescue Ulladulla joined several teams of helpers this week who went to the aid of a stranded whale near Ulladulla Harbour.

In a copybook exercise in co-operation, all involved threw their skills into the fight to free the young humpback which was trapped among rocks on Rennie's Beach.

Surfers were the first to spot the distressed mammal on Monday and alerted the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Volunteers from ORRCA also went to the scene to help and keep spectators at bay.

When NPWS officers saw the whale's predicament, it was quickly realised there was little that could be done except monitor the whale's condition and hope that it might free itself on that night's high tide.

When this didn't eventuate, it became clear that the creature's position and pounding seas made rescue very unlikely and the whale died on Tuesday morning before any further action could be attempted.

What had begun as a hopeful community rescue operation became a sorrowful recovery task for the team from Marine Rescue Ulladulla when police and the NPWS asked for assistance on the next high tide to remove the remains and take them out to sea.

This began a testing period for Marine Rescue Ulladulla with its Shark Cat Lewis Dunn, Ulladulla 20 and the ocean going 52ft lifeboat Encounter, Ulladulla 30.

Sea conditions prevented the operation on Tuesday but on Wednesday and in close liaison with fellow rescuers, MR Ulladulla crews took both vessels close inshore where divers arranged by NPWS were waiting to take a floating line to the whale's location.

This line was attached then passed to the powerful Encounter for the five nautical mile journey to sea where the whale was returned to the ocean.

Ulladulla unit commander Doug Musker said: 'We were all very disappointed that it wasn't the rescue everyone hoped it would be. On the positive side it was a good opportunity to work closely with other organisations in the rescue attempt.'

Ian Smith, South Coast Regional Operations Coordinator NPWS later contacted Commander Musker to thank him for a great result. NPWS staff who were in the water attaching the tow rope had described it as a 'pretty tricky operation'.

Matine Rescue NSW website

by Ken McManus

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