Thread by @ilatif

A female #humpback whale became entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighed down by hundreds of pounds of traps. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. 1/6

A story of expressing gratitude. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Faralon Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed for help, the rescue team determined that she was so badly off, the only way to save was to dive and untangle her, a very difficult suggestion.2/6

One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer. They worked for hours with curved knives and freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in axjoyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, nudged them, and pushed gently, thanking them. 3/6

Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.4/6

May you be so fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving #gratitude. 5/6

Thanks