Humpback Whale "Timmy" Rescued from Sandbank in Germany Using Barges and Heavy Equipment

Private Businessperson Covers Costs; Barges and Heavy Equipment Mobilized

15-Ton Humpback Whale Successfully Towed to Safety

A rescue operation has begun to save Timmy, a humpback whale who was stranded on the German coast and nearly lost its life. Massive barges and special heavy equipment were mobilized for the mission, with all costs reportedly covered by a businessperson.

According to international news reports, including AFP and dpa, on the afternoon of the 28th (local time), Timmy (estimated to be between 4 and 6 years old), who was trapped off the Baltic Sea coast near the northern German island of Poel, was loaded onto a barge and set off for the North Sea.

Timmy trapped on the Baltic Sea coast. Greenpeace

Timmy is a nickname given by German media to this humpback whale, which is native to the Atlantic Ocean. Timmy was discovered stranded on a sandbar off Poel Island on March 23. The whale’s month-long struggle for survival was broadcast live across Germany, leading to what was described as a “Timmy syndrome” throughout the country.

Ultimately, a rescue operation was launched to save Timmy. Businesswoman Karin Walter-Mommert covered the expenses, and special heavy equipment such as dredgers and excavators was deployed to create a water channel for the massive whale, which measures 12 to 15 meters in length and weighs up to 15 tons. Rescue authorities dug a dedicated channel for the whale using heavy machinery and attached it to a transport belt to pull it along.

After several cautious attempts, Timmy finally managed to escape from the sandbar and swam into the barge on its own. The rescue team and local citizens cheered, and some even shed tears of relief. Walter-Mommert emphasized, “I saw the whale struggling because it wanted to fight,” adding, “It was a miraculous moment that proved our efforts were not in vain.”

Initially, authorities believed that chances of rescuing Timmy were slim, but as public backlash intensified, a rescue operation led by private businesspeople was approved. Till Backhaus, Minister for the Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, explained, “After veterinarians determined that the whale could be transported, we gave the go-ahead for the rescue operation,” and added, “After working day and night, we succeeded in saving it.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.