It was keeping the nation on the edges of their seats as the 36 hour ordeal to save a juvenille humpback whale from the sands of Palm Beach unfolded in front of hundreds of concerned onlookers, camera crews and of course the Seaworld rescuers.

After numerous set backs including tides, harnesses snapping and a some well-intended-but-damaging interventions by onlookers, the 20 tonne male humpback finally made it back out to the ocean. Although he was exhausted he managed to almost ‘wave’ good-bye to his tireless rescuers as he rolled through the waves stretched his flippers.

There was certainly a sense of community spirit as the good news of the whales freedom made it’s way around the country.

Photo Credits: Gold Coast Bulletin