Oceanside Fire Marine Safety crews assist in humpback whale rescue
By SDCN Editor
Oceanside, CA–The Oceanside Fire and Lifeguard Marine Safety Unit teamed with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Orange County and SeaWorld Rescue in San Diego Tuesday to assist in the rescue efforts for a distressed humpback whale that had become entangled in a piece of rope.
The Marine Safety Rescue Boat quickly located the entangled whale 10 miles offshore. and played a crucial role in supporting the collaborative rescue operation. Their multifaceted assistance included shuttling essential equipment offshore, providing a stable platform for a Marine Mammal Center drone operator to track the animal and capture bird’s eye footage, and offering advanced life support capabilities in case of any injuries sustained by the rescuers, the Oceanside Fire Department said in a news release.
Despite the efforts of the rescue team, significant challenges were posed by waning daylight, and the whale’s direction of travel towards foreign waters. Rescuers managed to gather valuable evidence regarding the cause of the entanglement but were unable to completely free the whale from its predicament.
According to the Oceanside Fire Department, the rescue agencies remain vigilant and committed to monitoring the situation closely. They are prepared for further rescue attempts if deemed necessary and will continue their collaborative efforts to ensure the welfare of the distressed humpback whale.
