“It was an unbelievable experience.”
By Jill Dando News
Surfer Saves Stranded Fish – And Gets an Oceanic Thank You
Jason Breen is no stranger to encounters with ocean wildlife. As an avid surfer and water sportsman from Sydney, Australia, he’s witnessed humpback whales breach before his board and shared waves with countless sea creatures. But his most recent experience was something truly unforgettable.
When Breen heard that a large fish was trapped in a tidal pool after a storm, he didn’t hesitate. The fish in question? A blue groper — one of Australia’s most beloved and iconic marine species.
Ocean’s Gentle Giant in Trouble
Known for their vibrant blue scales and oversized lips, blue gropers are often called the “puppy dogs of the sea” because of their curious and friendly nature. But this one had been stranded for nearly a week without food, stuck in a shallow rock pool with no way out after a storm surge.
“He had to be saved, or he was gonna die,” Breen said in a video for The Dodo.
Without hesitation, Breen grabbed a net and climbed into the tidal pool. As he gently approached the fish, something remarkable happened — the groper swam right into the net, as if he understood help had arrived.
“I’m talking to him, saying, ‘It’s all right,’” Breen recalled.
A Rescue with Heart
With the groper secured, Breen carefully made his way across the slippery rocks and released the fish back into the open ocean. As he watched it swim away into deeper waters, Breen was overwhelmed with emotion.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” he said. “I just felt very privileged and very in touch with the ocean.”
But that wasn’t the end of the story.
A Thank You from the Deep?
The next morning, Breen paddled out for his usual surf — and to his amazement, the blue groper returned.
“When I went for a surf, he was there,” Breen said. “I would like to think he swam up to say thank you.”
This touching rescue is a beautiful reminder of the powerful bond between people and nature — and how one act of kindness can ripple far beyond the shore.