Breaching whale capsizes boat, leaving one dead in Australia
AUSTRALIA, Oct 1, (Agencies): A breaching whale off the coast of Australia led to the capsizing of a nearly 15-foot boat on Saturday, resulting in the tragic death of one man and hospitalization of another, as reported by officials.
New South Wales Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro provided details at a press conference regarding the incident, which occurred near La Perouse, approximately nine miles southeast of Sydney, at 6 in the morning. The two men who were fishing were eventually rescued, but regrettably, one of them did not survive.
Early indications suggest that a whale may have breached near or onto the boat, causing it to capsize. The recovered boat will undergo forensic testing to provide further insights into the incident.
The deceased victim was 61 years old, while the surviving individual, aged 53, is in stable condition, according to reports.
Munro noted that there is currently a high presence of whales in the area, and such encounters are not unheard of, although this particular incident was unprecedented in her experience. She revealed that the men may have been in the water for up to 45 minutes before they were rescued.
The skipper of the boat made efforts to keep the deceased man afloat until the police arrived, displaying tremendous bravery during the difficult circumstances.
Jihad Dib, the New South Wales minister for emergency services, characterized the incident as “an absolute freak accident” while emphasizing the inherent dangers associated with waterways.
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