This was the scene as a stranded whale shark was saved after getting stuck in a fishing net in shallow water off the coast of the central Philippines.

The massive creature appeared in distress after it washed up near the beach in Antique, the Philippines on Wednesday morning (April 10), apparently trapped in fishing nets laid out from shore.

Local fisherman noticed the immense fish thrashing around as it rolled onto its back and held its flippers in the airs.

Villagers from the coast gathered round as the whale and carefully freed it from the net and ushered back into the depths.

Resident Erica Yanson said: ‘’It was such a big whale. We helped it to go back safely into the deeper part of the ocean.’’