SYDNEY, Australia: Police reported that a whale collided with a boat off the eastern coast of Australia, resulting in the death of one man and injury to another.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the boat was hit around 6:00 am local time (2000 GMT on Friday) in the waters off La Perouse, approximately 14 kilometres (nine miles) southeast of Sydney. Both men were ejected from the boat due to the impact.
A separate boat witnessed the 4.8-metre runabout vessel circling without occupants and promptly alerted authorities. The 53-year-old skipper was rescued from the water nearby, treated by paramedics, and transported to the hospital in stable condition. Tragically, the 61-year-old man was found unconscious and passed away at the scene.
The skipper had desperately tried to keep his companion close to the boat in a valiant rescue effort, according to Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro. The collision was described as a “tragic accident,” with it believed that the whale breached near or possibly onto the boat.
Humpback and southern right whales are commonly seen along the New South Wales coastline each year, migrating north to warmer breeding grounds during Australia’s winter months and returning southwards between September and November. Munro highlighted the increased presence of whales in the area, noting numerous instances of whales breaching near boats. This unfortunate incident occurred less than two weeks after another tragic event where a four-metre humpback whale was struck by a boat propeller off the coast of Western Australia.
