When the orca surfaced one final time, it slowed and allowed the crew to get close. With poles and hooks, they reached out and carefully lifted the bundle off its back.
Inside the tangled netting was a young sea lion pup. Exhausted. Barely breathing. But still alive.
The orca gave one last circle around the boat before vanishing into the deep. Experts would later say the behavior was rare but not impossible. Some believe the orca had seen humans help before and came back knowing they would do it again.