A humpback whale that had been stranded multiple times near Germany's Baltic Sea coast was successfully released into the North Sea off Denmark on Saturday following a rare and complex rescue operation. The whale, locally known as “Timmy,” first became stuck on a sandbank near the city of Lübeck on March 23. After managing to free itself, it was stranded again on several occasions, prompting various unsuccessful rescue attempts.

Authorities eventually announced they would cease efforts to save the whale, but two wealthy entrepreneurs, including Karin Walter-Mommert — who made her fortune in horse racing — intervened by financing a private rescue mission. Their plan involved coaxing the whale into the water-filled hold of a specially equipped barge and towing it back to more suitable waters. To facilitate loading onto the barge, rescuers dug a channel in the sand and used straps to carefully maneuver the whale.

The move was met with some criticism from marine experts who expressed concerns that the operation could inflict additional stress and harm to the animal. Despite these reservations, the operation resulted in the whale being successfully transported and released. At approximately 8:45 a.m. local time (6:45 GMT), Timmy exited the barge at Wismar Bay on Germany’s Baltic coast, took a breath by blowing through its blowhole, and swam off on its own in a direction considered appropriate for its natural migration.

Walter-Mommert reported that the whale had sustained minor injuries likely related to the transport in rough seas but described them as superficial. She added that Timmy was expected to continue its journey northward along the Norwegian coastline towards the Arctic.

The rescue has drawn significant public interest and media attention in Germany, where Timmy’s plight touched many. While the whale’s long-term prospects remain uncertain, the unusual rescue operation marks a rare instance of successful intervention for a large marine mammal in distress in northern European waters.