Divers have rescued a whale shark caught in thick rope off the coast of Mexico.

The pregnant whale shark had got wrapped in a thick rope which had to be cut off by the divers who were accompanying tourists when they spotted the distressed creature.

It took two trips, to 30m below the surface, to check the condition of the 10m-long shark and then to remove the rope.

A large, deep scar could be seen on the whale shark's back once the rope was removed, leading the divers to believe that the animal had been trapped for some time.