Former All Blacks player helped save whale in New Zealand and video sparked controversy

A former player of the All blacks stayed in the eye of the storm despite a good gesture. It is Ali williams, world champion with rugby team of New Zealand at 2011, who helped save a whale stranded on a beach in his country. His actions have been criticized by charities that protect these marine animals.

Williams, who retired from professional activity with the shirt of the Race 92 of France during the 2016/17 season, he returned by helicopter from Bay of islands when they saw the stranded whale Mangawhai heads, a beach north of Auckland, according to the New Zealand Herald.

With Nick mowbray, founder of the toy company Zuru Inc, they decided to help the cetacean return to its natural habitat.

“We noticed what we thought was a shark or dolphin washed up on a beach north of Auckland … As we got closer, we saw that it was actually a whale.”Mowbray partner Jaimee Lupton said in dialogue with Reuters.

Once near the whale, Ali williams, of 39 years old, he entered the water with his companions to push the animal into the water. His intention was logically to save the whale, which some children and rescuers in the area also tried.

“We successfully released the whale after about an hour. It was almost dark so we had to go fast and take action or else he might not have survived. It was very moving and we all applauded him once he swam in the sea“, He said Lupton.

But all did not go well for the ex All blacks and their companions, from the videos posted on social networks, where they are seen all pushing and pulling the whale so that he could swim freely, they triggered the repudiation of a charity called Jonah Project.

On its Facebook page, this entity criticized the techniques used. “The video shows members of the public using a rope around the tail and pulling the whale back… to take him to deeper waters. This is incredibly dangerous not only for rescuers, but it can cause significant damage to the whale. While we understand the desire to take the whale to deeper waters, it is important that this is done correctly and safelyThey wrote from the organization.

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