Orcas, also known as killer whales, are a beautiful and rare thing to see in the wild. Intelligent and often aggressive carnivores, these sea mammals are the largest members of the dolphin family, earning their “killer” name from the way they communicate with one another to effectively prey upon seals, sea lions, squids, and most other sea animals.

But when this powerful sea creature gets stranded on the coastline, even she needs some help to survive. Watch as a group of strangers care for this majestic animal for almost eight hours.

On July 23, 2015, a man heard a crying noise outside his home on the British Columbia coast. When he looked outside, he saw a orca stranded on the rocks during low tide. He immediately called animals rescuers.

The rescue groups Guardians and For Whales came to the orca’s aid, covering her in blankets and tarps and keeping her consistently moist so she wouldn’t perish from death by exposure.

After eight hours of tending to the orca, the tide finally rose enough so that the orca could comfortably swim away.

This was an incredible thing these rescuers did, saving an innocent animal from a terrible death. Even better, the rescuers said they could tell that the female orca knew she was being helped. When she was swimming away, they said there was a moment where she was almost thanking them for their help.

What a beautiful thing to brighten your day!