Whale’s body was covered in thousands of barnacles. What the diver did next left everyone speechless

I’m about a mile northeast of Puget Sound’s entrance. I’ve found an adult humpback whale in critical condition. Its body is almost entirely covered in barnacles, and it’s barely moving.

There’s a calf nearby.” Luckily, a seasoned specialist was on the line. They asked a few pointed questions about the whale’s state, size, and depth before assuring Jake that a rescue team would arrive within an hour.

That hour felt endless. Jake periodically dove with a mask to confirm the whales were still there. The calf seemed to sense help was coming.

It stopped its frantic movements and simply hovered near its mother, occasionally brushing her gently with its fin. A specialized Marine Mammal Rescue vessel appeared on the horizon precisely 53 minutes later. The team of six included two veterinarians specializing in marine mammals, three rescue operation experts, and a whale behavior specialist.

After evaluating the scene, the team sprang into action. Two divers descended with advanced tools to remove barnacles.

Their equipment far surpassed Jake’s knife, featuring hydraulic scrapers designed to clear parasites without damaging the whale’s skin. The work progressed slowly but steadily.

Divers rotated hourly to conserve air. Jake, with the operation leader’s approval, joined the effort, assisting where possible. The calf remained close, intently observing the rescue.

Once most barnacles were cleared, the veterinarians conducted a deeper examination. They found a troubling swelling on the whale’s side, unusual for the species…