Whale rescuer's death case of good intentions gone wrong

The presumed death of a Kaikoura diver while trying to help a whale was a case of good intentions which went terribly wrong, Whale Watch Kaikoura says.

Tom Smith, 38, had been trying to free a humpback whale whose tail was tangled in a line attached to a crayfish pot late yesterday morning.

About 30 tourists in a boat belonging to Whale Watch Kaikoura saw the whale lift its tale and strike Mr Smith.

He disappeared below the water and has not been seen since.

"Our vessels were about to embark on a whale watching tour when they sighted the whale and contacted the Department of Conservation (DOC) to see whether or not it was able to assist the whale free from its entanglement," Thomas Kahu of Whale Watch Kaikoura told National Radio today.

"The diver was very keen to release the whale from its predicament. It was pretty much driven by good intentions which went terribly wrong."

It was not the first time Mr Smith had attempted to rescue whales, and it was almost two years to the day since Mr Smith was photographed freeing another humpback whale tangled in crayfish-pot ropes.

At the time, he told the Christchurch Press: "I was pretty scared".

Mr Smith said he believed the whale knew it was being rescued.

"The first thing I did was make eye contact with its dinner plate-sized eye. It let out a roar of distress.

"It started whistling as I started to cut the loop of rope from around its head. I dumped the scuba gear back on the boat and hopped back in to cut the other tangled rope from the tail.

"When it stopped moving, I approached. The whale dropped its head and raised its tail, waiting for me to do the cutting. They talk about how whales know you are going to help them -- I believe it."

The search for Mr Smith would resume today, police said.

Mr Kahu said about 10-20 humpback whales were spotted around Kaikoura each year. Much bigger sperm whales were commonly spotted in deeper waters.

"Whales often come past this coast and if they do get fouled up in any gear, 99 per cent of the time they free themselves."

The whale was left swimming attached to the line, and DOC said last night it was fearful the whale could drown if it became too stressed and tired from trying to free itself.

DOC area manager for South Marlborough Dave Hayes said i t was hoped the humpback would break free overnight. Otherwise another attempt would be made today to cut the fishing line.

"That will depend on sea conditions and also on the whale's behaviour. If it's thrashing about we won't be putting any staff near it."

- NZPA