In an “extremely rare” encounter, a fisherman was knocked unconscious when he was slapped in the face by the tail of a breaching whale.
The incident occurred Sunday morning less than a mile off Tweed Heads coastal bar in New South Wales, Australia, according to News.com.au.
Fortunately, the unidentified 40-year-old man was not knocked overboard, and a friend was with him. The friend, who was driving the boat at a slow speed when the whale surprised them, immediately called for help.
Crews from Volunteers Marine Rescue, the water police and paramedics boated to the man before he was returned to the mainland where he was transported to a hospital.
“You have a little bit of disbelief that it’s happened at first,” Queensland Ambulance Service Senior Paramedic Scott Brown told reporters. “Just two guys having a morning fish and all of a sudden a whale’s tail appeared, striking one in the head.
“One, to come that close to a whale and then two, for the whale’s tail to contact you while you’re in the boat—extremely rare.”
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The man was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment of facial and spinal injuries, and he was reported in stable condition by 7News.
“[He was] very lucky to get away with the injuries they have,” Brown told reporters. “[He was] sore and sorry. Couldn’t believe what happened—not really remembering everything that happened but was in a good way.”
Adam Bell was jetskiing and witnessed the encounter. He and his son became first responders.
“It was like getting hit by Mike Tyson, mate,” Bell told 7News. “It just pounded him…[with] an incredible force.
“His face had some slim on it and you could see a big welt mark.”
The incident prompted the Queensland Police to urge all boaters “to always wear life jackets; fortunately this man remained in his boat,” The Courier reported.
Photos courtesy of Wikipedia Commons and 7News.