Breaching whale crashes onto boat, critically hurts 18-year-old, Australia officials say

A breaching whale crashed onto a boat near Narooma, Australia, on Sunday, injuring two people fishing — one critically, officials say.

A 39-year-old man, who had a concussion, piloted the damaged boat back to shore with a badly injured 18-year-old man, news.com.au reported. The teen suffered serious head injuries and a possible fractured neck.

Mariners called the encounter off New South Wales “incredibly rare,” the Australia Broadcasting Corporation reported. Whales are hit by boats far more often.

“Whales are incredibly intelligent, and very aware of the areas that’s around them,” John Moore, a former Montague Island charter operator, told the network. “In my 40-odd years at sea, I’ve only ever heard of it once before.”

Increasing numbers of humpback whales are migrating north and are closer to the coast than in most years, boosting the chances of encounters with boaters, officials told 9 News.

“We encourage anyone hoping to get a closer look to maintain a safe distance,” Superintendent Joe McNulty, marine area commander, told the Australia Broadcasting Corporation.

The Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia and National Parks and Wildlife are searching for the whale, which may be injured, news.com.au reported.

This story was originally published June 8, 2021 at 7:50 AM with the headline "Breaching whale crashes onto boat, critically hurts 18-year-old, Australia officials say."