A Canadian man died Monday attempting to save a critically endangered whale that was caught in some fishing lines in the Gulf of St Lawrence.
Joe Howlett, founder of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, managed to cut the North Atlantic right whale free but was killed after the whale flipped onto him in the water.
Howlett's friend and co-founder of the whale rescue groups, Mackie Green, told BBC News: "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. 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," he added.
The whale rescue worker, who was a lobster fisherman by trade, was a well-known and well-respected figure on Campobello Island, where condolences poured in following the news of his death.
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."
"Everybody knew Joe Howlett and everybody respected Joe Howlett... it's a big blow," he added.
Howlett and other whale rescue workers were praised for their bravery in carrying out the rescue, with the minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada explaining, "there are serious risks involved with any disentanglement attempt."
Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in a statement: "Taking part in whale rescue operations requires immense bravery and a passion for the welfare of marine mammals."
He said: "At the time of the fatal incident, Mr. Howlett was on a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) fast response vessel. DFO's Conservation and Protection officers and the Canadian Coast Guard took part in responding to the situation."
"We have lost an irreplaceable member of the whale rescue community. His expertise and dedication will be greatly missed," he added.
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