The juvenile humpback became stranded on the sand at Palm Beach late on Tuesday but is now swimming out to sea. The rescuers were successful on their fifth attempt to free the whale after earlier managing to move the whale towards the back of the breakers before the tow rope snapped and the humpback was back on the sand. Sea World spokeswoman Tacha Mulligan says she is hopeful the whale will survive despite being out of the water for some time. “We were working against the conditions – time was running out on us”, she said. “It was the perfect time to go when we were able to release it. However, it has been out of the water and we are cautiously optimistic it will be OK from here on in”.

Marine rescue workers from Sea World attempt to help a juvenile humpback whale stranded at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, in Queensland July 9, 2014. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Reuters)

Marine rescue workers from Sea World attempt to help a juvenile humpback whale stranded at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, in Queensland July 9, 2014. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Reuters)

Marine rescue workers from Sea World attempt to help a juvenile humpback whale stranded at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, in Queensland July 9, 2014. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Reuters)

Marine rescue workers from Sea World attempt to help a juvenile humpback whale stranded at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, in Queensland July 9, 2014. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Reuters)

A marine rescue worker from Sea World works in a joint attempt with his colleagues to help a juvenile humpback whale stranded at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, in Queensland July 9, 2014. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Reuters)

Marine rescue workers from Sea World attempt to help a juvenile humpback whale stranded at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, in Queensland July 9, 2014. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Reuters)

Marine rescue workers from Sea World attempt to help a juvenile humpback whale stranded at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, in Queensland July 9, 2014. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Reuters)