<div><p>When this family made the decision to intervene, they knew that there were so many things that could have gone wrong. </p><p>As researchers and their family were touring the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Baja, California, they spotted a young humpback whale that appeared to be in some significant distress. </p><p>As they approached the whale, they realized that she was severely entangled in a large nylon net. Although she could breathe, she could barely move. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed-From-Nets-YouTube.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed-From-Nets-YouTube_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed-From-Nets-YouTube_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed-From-Nets-YouTube_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed-From-Nets-YouTube_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed-From-Nets-YouTube_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed-From-Nets-YouTube_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed-From-Nets-YouTube_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>YouTube</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>After much debate, co-director of <a href="http://www.greatwhaleconservancy.org/">The Great Whale Conservancy</a>, Michael Fishbach, slipped into the water and cautiously swam within a foot of the gentle giant's eye. </p><p><strong>See the full rescue on the next page!</strong></p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p></p><p>Fishbach tells <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/humpback-whale-performance-rescuers/story?id=14197025">ABC News</a> that he wanted to present himself to her as a friend - so that she wouldn't be afraid as he and his team attempted the difficult task of cutting away the netting. </p><p>Very slowly, they brought their small boat up alongside the large whale and began the long, careful process of cutting away the tangled netting. </p><div><div><div><amp-youtube height="9" width="16" layout="responsive" data-videoid="X-NqfhcMyBk"></amp-youtube></div></div></div><p>For over an hour, they worked tirelessly to free the whale they named Valentina. After the final cut is made, the watch her swim away - free at last!</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>But as the camera pans into the horizon it captures Valentina's stunning display of joy and quite possibly gratitude - watch to the end, you don't want to miss this!</p><div><div><div><amp-youtube height="9" width="16" layout="responsive" data-videoid="EBYPlcSD490"></amp-youtube></div></div></div><p>[h/t<a href="https://www.shared.com/we-saved-a-humpback-whale-this-familys-vacation-turns-into-a-high-stakes-whale-rescue-video/?" target="_blank"> ABC News</a>]</p></div>
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