After the whale — a distant cousin of the great sperm whale made famous in the novel Moby Dick — was discovered by local surfers at 6am, volunteers rallied to its rescue but were hampered by rough weather.

As crowds gathered to watch, National Parks and Wildlife Service staff, along with volunteers from the whale rescue group ORRCA, tried to steer the baby whale back to sea, initially without success.

After a test swim at Ettalong, where rescuers formed a circle and let the whale swim around, the whale was put on an inflatable runabout that was then towed out to sea, still with National Parks staff attempting to keep the animal calm. The whale was last seen swimming strongly north.

NURSING wounds from a boat propeller and having warded off a shark attack, an infant pygmy sperm whale beached itself on the NSW central coast yesterday.

After the whale — a distant cousin of the great sperm whale made famous in the novel Moby Dick — was discovered by local surfers at 6am, volunteers rallied to its rescue but were hampered by rough weather.

As crowds gathered to watch, National Parks and Wildlife Service staff, along with volunteers from the whale rescue group ORRCA, tried to steer the baby whale back to sea, initially without success.

The whale, measuring barely 1.4m, was stabilised at Umina but the rough surf made working with it difficult.

Rescuers, in contact with a veterinarian from Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo, floated the whale on to specially designed mats and then moved it by trailer to nearby Ettalong beach, where the waters were much calmer.

Rescuers travelled with the whale, keeping it wet and calm on the journey.

After a test swim at Ettalong, where rescuers formed a circle and let the whale swim around, the whale was put on an inflatable runabout that was then towed out to sea, still with National Parks staff attempting to keep the animal calm. The whale was last seen swimming strongly north.

NPWS spokeswoman Susan Davis said it was possible to save some whales when they beached in pods, but it was rare to save an individual. “Everyone is very happy about the successful rescue,” she said.

ORRCA president Ron Ling said what was special about yesterday’s rescue was the way everyone, including National Parks staff, volunteers and the public all worked together to save the whale’s life.

“They are a delicate little animal,” he said.

“They’re just wonderful — a beautiful, timid sort of beast, just an amazing creature.”

The annual winter migration of humpback and southern right whales from the Antarctic up the east coast of Australia, where they will give birth in warmer waters, has just begun.

Mr Ling said the public should not approach migrating whales, which were protected by law.