Humpback whale jumps and lands on two kayakers
Several tourists on a whale-watching boat filmed a spectacular and harrowing moment involving a humpback.
In our quest to relive epic moments in adventure sports, one unforgettable incident stands out - an astonishing encounter off the coast of Moss Landing, California, that left onlookers speechless. Two kayakers - identified as Tom, a wildlife filmmaker, and his companion - experienced the unimaginable when a massive humpback whale breached and landed directly on their kayak.
The incident occurred during a whale-watching tour organized by Sanctuary Cruises, and was captured on video by several tourists aboard a nearby vessel. The footage shows the humpback whale leaping from the water and crashing down in a dramatic splash onto the two unsuspecting kayakers, who briefly vanished beneath the surface - before re-emerging, unhurt.
“Neither of us know how we weren’t ended”
Tom looked back at the surreal experience. “We were taken under the water by the whale, perhaps in the down-draft,” he said, per Inside Edition. “I think it brushed against me while I was out of the kayak… Neither of us know how we weren’t ended there and then.” He added: “We definitely understood how lucky we were, and were pretty confused.”
Captain Mike Sack, of Sanctuary Cruises, described the event as one of the most dangerous he’s ever witnessed: “All of a sudden, this massive full-size whale does a full 180-degree breach and lands stomach first either right on top of or right next to two kayakers.”
Captain Sack noted that the whale’s left pectoral fin, which can measure up to 15 feet on an adult humpback, was likely what struck them. He warned of the risks of whale-watching from a kayak, emphasizing that humpbacks are “wild” and “totally unpredictable” animals.
Tom noted that their group had taken precautions to keep a safe distance from the whales, which made the encounter all the more shocking.
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