Orca got stuck and cried for hours. When rescuers arrived, something incredible happens

The rescuers labored relentlessly to keep the orca hydrated and cool, working in shifts to replace warmer sheets with colder ones and continuously spraying her to shield her from the sun’s rays.

They couldn’t help but reflect on how dire the situation might have been had Mark not heard her cries. Until then, they’d avoided covering her head to prevent panic, fearing that obstructing her vision could heighten her vulnerability.

But the sun’s intensity demanded action to protect her sensitive skin. Sarah recounted how one rescuer carefully waded toward the orca’s head, slowly placing a cool, wet sheet over it, ensuring her blowhole remained uncovered.

At just 9 years old, the orca’s youth and smaller size—around 7,000 pounds, comparable to a hippo or seven cows—worked in her favor.

A mature male could weigh up to 16,000 pounds, and the pressure on an older orca’s lungs might have been fatal before the tide returned. The pump eventually failed, defying Mark’s duct-tape fixes, but just then, the sea began to rise.