This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40579766
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Canada whale rescuer killed after cutting endangered animal loose | Canada whale rescuer killed after cutting endangered animal loose |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Canadian man has been killed during a rescue operation after he cut an endangered whale free from tangled fishing lines. | A Canadian man has been killed during a rescue operation after he cut an endangered whale free from tangled fishing lines. |
| Joe Howlett succeeded in rescuing the whale, only to be struck by it moments later as it flipped into the water. | Joe Howlett succeeded in rescuing the whale, only to be struck by it moments later as it flipped into the water. |
| He was a lobster fisherman by trade and a founder of the whale rescue group on Campobello Island, New Brunswick. | He was a lobster fisherman by trade and a founder of the whale rescue group on Campobello Island, New Brunswick. |
| Friends told the Canadian Press he had saved some two dozen whales over 15 years. | Friends told the Canadian Press he had saved some two dozen whales over 15 years. |
| Mackie Green, a friend of Mr Howlett who had founded the rescue team with him, said: "They got the whale totally disentangled and then some kind of freak thing happened and the whale made a big flip." | Mackie Green, a friend of Mr Howlett who had founded the rescue team with him, said: "They got the whale totally disentangled and then some kind of freak thing happened and the whale made a big flip." |
| "Joe definitely would not want us to stop because of this," he added. "This is something he loved and there's no better feeling than getting a whale untangled, and I know how good he was feeling after cutting that whale clear." | "Joe definitely would not want us to stop because of this," he added. "This is something he loved and there's no better feeling than getting a whale untangled, and I know how good he was feeling after cutting that whale clear." |
| The animal was a North Atlantic right whale - an endangered species that may grow to about 15m (50 feet) in length and weigh up to 70 tonnes. | The animal was a North Atlantic right whale - an endangered species that may grow to about 15m (50 feet) in length and weigh up to 70 tonnes. |
| The species is "critically endangered", with about 500 left alive, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. | The species is "critically endangered", with about 500 left alive, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. |
| Seven were found dead in Canada's Gulf of St Laurence in the last month - a significant blow to the global population. | Seven were found dead in Canada's Gulf of St Laurence in the last month - a significant blow to the global population. |
| Mr Howlett was on board a government response vessel at the time of his death. | Mr Howlett was on board a government response vessel at the time of his death. |
| The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said he had rescued another whale days before, on 5 July. Rescuers like Mr Howlett had "immense bravery and a passion for the welfare of marine mammals", it said. | The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said he had rescued another whale days before, on 5 July. Rescuers like Mr Howlett had "immense bravery and a passion for the welfare of marine mammals", it said. |
| "There are serious risks involved with any disentanglement attempt. Each situation is unique, and entangled whales can be unpredictable." | "There are serious risks involved with any disentanglement attempt. Each situation is unique, and entangled whales can be unpredictable." |
| Mr Howlett lived on Campobello Island, a small community on the border with the US, where locals have been paying tribute to the well-known rescue worker. | |
| "There's only 850 people here on Campobello Island now and Joe was a very lively character, he had a great sense of humour," mayor Stephen Smart told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. | "There's only 850 people here on Campobello Island now and Joe was a very lively character, he had a great sense of humour," mayor Stephen Smart told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| "Everybody knew Joe Howlett and everybody respected Joe Howlett... it's a big blow." | "Everybody knew Joe Howlett and everybody respected Joe Howlett... it's a big blow." |