In a devastating incident off the coast of La Perouse, about 14km southeast of Sydney, Australia, a fishing trip turned fatal when a whale struck and flipped a small boat. The collision occurred around 06.00 local time on Saturday, leading to the death of a 61-year-old man and the hospitalisation of a 53-year-old skipper.
The two men were ejected from their 4.8-meter vessel when it was hit, prompting individuals on a second boat to raise the alarm upon discovering the unoccupied boat in the water. The skipper, aged 53, was pulled from the water nearby, received treatment from paramedics, and was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Unfortunately, the 61-year-old man was unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities believe the boat likely collided with or was impacted by a breaching whale, causing it to tilt and eject both occupants. Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro termed the incident a “tragic accident” and shared that the skipper had made a valiant effort to keep his companion close.
Reports from Australia’s ABC national broadcaster revealed that the men might have been in the water for approximately 45 minutes before being rescued.
Despite Australia’s extensive coastline and a variety of whale species inhabiting its waters, incidents resulting in human deaths caused by whales are rare. Humpback and southern right whales are currently in the waters, migrating north for breeding during winter months and returning southwards between September and November.
Water Police Acting Superintendent Munro emphasised the increasing presence of whales in the waters, with many breaching near boats. New South Wales Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings urged people to maintain a safe distance, staying 100 meters away from adult whales and 300 meters if a whale is accompanied by a calf. Hutchings emphasised that while whales aren’t harmful, interactions can lead to unforeseen accidents.
This tragic incident follows a recent case in Western Australia, where a humpback whale was struck by a boat propeller, and a June incident in the Pacific Ocean where a sailboat capsized after a collision with one or two whales, resulting in the rescue of eight Danish individuals.
