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A 7-metre orca nicknamed Nobby is back at sea after being stranded at Papamoa Beach in the Bay of Plenty yesterday morning.
Thousands of locals watched volunteers from whale protection organisation Project Jonah and Department of Conservation rescuers keep the 30-year-old male wet and comfortable as they dug a trench to help refloat him.
Katrina Knill from DoC said that the killer whale seemed to be in good shape as he swam off at about 2.30pm.
"We had some great volunteers and everyone was pretty happy when he finally made it out. Normally you have to use a pontoon, but we just turned him around so he was facing the right direction and when the water came up, away he went."
Project Jonah will launch its summer whale rescue training roadshow in Auckland next Saturday. Training will be held in seven locations nationally.
Spokeswoman Kimberly Muncaster said yesterday's stranding underlined the importance of having trained volunteers on call.
Rescuers didn't need any special qualities except a love of marine mammals. www.projectjonah.org.nz
