A female humpback whale was fighting for her life — trapped in hundreds of pounds of crab traps and lines that bound her tail, torso, and even her mouth. Every breath was a battle.
A fisherman spotted her east of the Farallon Islands, near the Golden Gate, and knew she wouldn’t survive without help. He radioed for rescue, and soon, a specialized team of divers arrived, fully aware of the danger they faced. One flick of her massive tail could have killed them instantly.
Still, they dove in.
Wrapped in a terrifying web of traps and hundreds of yards of rope, the whale’s enormous body was being dragged under. The ropes dug into her flesh, pulling at her mouth and choking her. She was exhausted, but still fought to breathe.
The rescue was painstaking. For hours, divers used curved knives to slice away the deadly bindings. Every cut brought them closer to freedom — and closer to danger. At last, the final rope fell away.
The ocean erupted in life.
She swam in wide, sweeping circles — movements the divers described as pure joy. Then something extraordinary happened. Instead of disappearing into the deep, the whale approached each rescuer in turn. She nudged them gently, almost playfully, as if to say thank you.
One diver, who freed the rope from her mouth, swore she kept her eye locked on him the entire time — a gaze so deep and powerful it’s etched into his memory forever.
Many on the team called it the most beautiful and humbling experience of their lives.
May we all be so fortunate — to be surrounded by those who help us get untangled from whatever binds us. And may we always feel the joy that comes from both giving and receiving gratitude. 🤗
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