Rescuers (including Bev Weber, second left) kept the whale upright before giving it one last push back out to sea.
Rescuers (including Bev Weber, second left) kept the whale upright before giving it one last push back out to sea.
Doubtless Bay woman Bev Weber and her husband got more than their usual walk with the dogs on Taipa Beach on Friday morning.
They found a whale floundering in the shallow, Mrs Weber's husband walking on with the dogs while she contacted Far North Marine Radio (which contacted DoC) andthe police.
She stayed with the whale, and, with no one else on the beach, got into the water with it. Some 10 minutes later two young women came down to the beach, and she called to them for help.
"The three of us got the whale turned around three times, and were able to push it out to where the waves were breaking. Unfortunately, three times it turned back and beached itself again," she said.
"After the third attempt I asked a man passing by to go to the (Ramada) Resort and see if there was anyone there who could help us. Two ladies from Paihia came down to the beach, and with the extra two people we were able to get the whale well through the breakers and on its way. We were all in chest-deep water at that point."
The police arrived as the whale was beginning to head out, and the rescuers finally left the water.
Community ranger Doug Te Wake said DoC staff from Kaitaia arrived by boat, accompanied by Ngati Kahu representatives, around 8am, just in time to wave goodbye to the departing whale. It was last seen heading around the point towards Aurere.
The women had done an awesome job, Mr Te Wake said, adding staff had been unable to get close enough to confirm the species, but one of the rescuers believed it was a Bryde's whale.
