In December 2016, Legacy, a small fishing boat cruising near Bodega Bay, California ran into a whale entangled by crab pots. The three fisherman on Legacy didn't have time to call for help. One of Legacy's crewmen, Valentine Parnell, described how they noticed the whale "absolutely trapped," with its blowhole spouting. Ken Garliepp, Legacy's deck boss, said, "I mean it was cutting into him to where he was bleeding, so I don't know how long it would have been 'til he's getting ripped apart by sharks. He definitely needed help."

Using boat hooks, the men snagged lines and started cutting. Piece by piece the old lines slowly came off. At first the whale resisted, but then something miraculous happened. "It would come and it would roll over and be like, almost showing us where the lines were on its fins," Parnell said. Garliepp said, "Once we started getting stuff cut off, it was like he knew we were trying to help him, you know." Once freed, it swam around the boat several times, staying close. The men say it seemed to be saying thanks, but no one knows for sure.

Back on shore, getting ready to head back out, the skipper and the crew of the Legacy were still thinking about how they saved the life of a dying whale. "To see this massive, beautiful creature, that could absolutely crush you, but doesn't … It was the most intense thing I've been a part of …," Parnell said. Garliepp added, "It was a great feeling, a really great feeling. If I was to die today, you know, I would know I did something good with my life."