humpback whale

The juvenile whale was seen swimming in a clockwise circle, making unusual noises and trailing two buoys. A team of wildlife experts had to move fast, but with plenty of patience, to save its life.

Michael Packard says he was trapped in the whale's mouth for 30 to 40 seconds before it tossed him back in the water, bruised but otherwise unharmed. Experts tell NPR such events are extremely rare.

The juvenile whale was ensnarled in more than a 100 feet of small gauge line, making it difficult for the sea creature to swim. But a team of experts cut its flipper and mouth free on Wednesday.