FRANKFURT: A humpback whale that had been struggling to survive after beaching near the German coast was released on Satu­rday into the North Sea off Denmark, after being tra­ns­­ported in a barge in a last-ditch rescue operation.

The whale, dubbed “Tim­­my” in Germany — where its ordeal captured hearts and sparked a med­ia frenzy — exited the bar­ge, blew air through its blow­­hole and swam off, said Karin Walter-Momm­ert, one of the wealthy entrepreneurs who financ­­ed the rescue initiative.

It was now swimming on its own and, at least for the time being, in the right dir­e­­­ction, she said. The whale “has some small injuries — probably from being transported in rough seas — but they are superficial”, said Walter-Mommert.

It “should now swim up the Norwegian coast toward the Arctic”, added the entrepreneur, who made her fortune in horse racing. The whale was first spotted stuck on a sandbank on March 23 near the city of Luebeck, on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast, before freeing itself and then becoming stuck again several times.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026