Baltic Rescue Uncovers Bigger‑Than‑Expected Humpback and a Second Stranding

Rescuers in Lübeck Bay fought to free a humpback trapped in shallow sand, using boats to create waves and later excavators to dig a trench toward deeper water. A revised estimate put the whale at about 12–15 meters and 15 tonnes, increasing urgency. The whale appeared to move toward open water but stranded again in nearby bays, underscoring the Baltic Sea’s trap-like risks for large whales and the uncertainties of such rescues.