SA: Mystery diver frees distressed whale from cray pot lines
Eds: Updates with whale being entangled in crab pot lines and diver reporting to hospital.
By Tim Dornin
ADELAIDE, Aug 19 AAP - A mystery diver has rescued a southern right whale that becameentangled in crab pot lines in South Australia's Spencer Gulf today.
The 13-metre whale was spotted offshore from Whyalla this morning with rope tangledaround its head.
National Parks and Wildlife officers used a plane to assess the situation from theair, and found the whale was in some distress and its movements restricted.
But before a response team could be deployed, an unidentified local diver went to thewhale's aid and removed the rope.
"(It was) a good result for the whale, but a pretty risky thing to do," said NationalParks and Wildlife spokesman Chris Halstead.
"Whales can be unpredictable in their movements, particularly with their tails."
He said the diver involved in the rescue was believed to have gone to the Whyalla Hospitalwith a severe cut to his hand.
Mr Halstead said he was confident the rope had been disentangled, but the whale's progresswould be monitored, short-term, to ensure it had no further problems.
He said the rope had been left in the water, and it was later found to have been twocrab pot lines.
As the drama unfolded today, Premier Mike Rann told state parliament the governmentwas prepared to do everything it could to ensure the whale was freed.
AAP tjd/tnf/apm
KEYWORD: WHALE SECOND NIGHTLEAD
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