Aerial cameras today captured the shocking rescue of a baby whale caught in shark net off Queensland's Rainbow Beach.

The juvenile became badly tangled in the net earlier today, prompting rescue teams to make their way out to assist the distressed animal.

Video footage, captured by television news teams in helicopters above, shows the baby whale's mother swimming around its calf; clearly distressed but unable to help.

Nets wrapped around baby whale's tail are being cut through. Keep your fingers crossed! @7NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/qbWiYgR4F1 — Laura Dymock (@LauraDymock) October 16, 2014

A rescue team can be seen cutting away the net in an attempt to free the whale.

And it was a happy ending for the whale and its mother, with the juvenille finally breaking free and the pair swimming off side by side.