Beluga Whale Saves Free Diver in China

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Jeffrey Newman

In July 2009, a Beluga whale named Mila saved 26-year-old Yang Yun when her legs froze up during a free dive competition in Mila’s arctic aquarium home. When Yang tried to surface, she realized that she couldn’t move her legs and she began sinking. She thought “that was it for me – I was dead, until I felt this incredible force under me driving me to the surface.” The incredible force was Mila, a Beluga whale who had sensed Yun’s distress. Using her sensitive dolphin-like nose, Mila guided Yun safely to the surface gently carrying one of Yun’s legs in her mouth.

Experts say Beluga whales have facial muscles that allow them to smile. They were among the first whales to interact with humans.