Divers free ‘The animal was in ‘freak mode’ ray tangled in fishing rope near sharks ‘ready to attack’

Underwater photographers and free divers rescued a ray tangled in fishing rope – while being circled by sharks.

The mobula ray was trapped 18m below the surface, completely wrapped in rope from a shark fisherman’s buoy.

Working in shifts, the team carefully cut away the line and freed the distressed animal while documenting the entire rescue, off Baja California, Mexico.

Underwater photographers and free divers saved a mobula ray wrapped in rope from a shark fisherman’s buoy. Andre Smits / SWNS The ray was trapped 18m below the surface. Andre Smits / SWNS

After swimming away, the injured ray unexpectedly returned, circling the divers in what they described as a “thank you” moment.

Andre Smits, 35, an underwater photographer, was part of the ocean safari