fishbach takes a quick dip in the water to assess the situation under the surface. for a knife like this one. he wants to try cutting some of the net free. it's a decision that seems to make his son nervous. >> daddy's going to try to help it, galen. [ crying ] >> i'm scared. it's okay, honey. >> galen, it's okay. >> the camera is rolling as he approaches the 40 to 50,000-pound humpback. >> i got within roughly one foot of the eyeball of this humpback just trying to reassure i was there to help. very extraordinary to have that moment. >> fishbach is able to cut some of the net free from the animal's back. >> how's it working, michael? >> when he tries to continue cutting along the side of the whale, it becomes clear that's not the right choice. >> he's freaking out. i got his dorsal fin free. that's it. his pecks and float are screwed. >> it's now safer to work on the net from on board the boat. fishbach hands over the knife to george who continues to cut where he can. >> you've got to cut everything you can. >> fishbach and the boat's captain haul the excess net ab