ONE Mid-Devon Advertiser reader captured the moment brave officials battled to free a humpback whale which had become trapped off the coast of Start Bay.

Newton Abbot’s Sarah Vooght grabbed her camera and snapped the RNLI and British Divers Marine Life Rescue untangling the animal from ropes from crab or lobster pots.

A spokesman for Dart RNLI said: ‘Initially divers thought they may be able to free the whale relatively easily.

‘However, the line was caught around the whale’s tail so it would have been extremely dangerous for the divers to be in the water if she whipped her tail back once free.

‘The divers eventually freed the whale successful with no injuries sustained by the divers.

‘It was a fantastic outcome and a great effort by all. ‘A truly emotional five hours.’

Initial reports claimed the whale had two calfs with it, but on closer inspection it was alone.