This was not an experience coming from a whale!
A humpback whale caused quite a stir Sunday when it landed on a boat off the coast of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Footage shows the aquatic creature jumping out of the water and landing on a 19-foot boat around 10 a.m. near White Horse Beach, NBC10 reported.
“All of a sudden, a full breach, 10 feet out of the water, slams into this guy’s boat, like his nose goes into the water, the engine shuts off, the whole thing pops, the whale flips over on its side, totally fine, but his boat was messed up,” witness Ryder Parkhurst told the publication.
“It was crazy, the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all. It pops up, bam… right on the bow of the guy’s boat.’
Plymouth Harbor Master Chad Hunter said no one was injured by the whale.
“It could have been a lot worse for everyone involved,” Hunter added.
“Kids like to lean over the side of the boat to look at the fish, so it’s very lucky that no one was hurt here. An accident like this is quite rare, but very dangerous for boaters.
Harbor officials have been monitoring whale activity in the area since Friday after a boat accidentally struck a whale.
Port officials said no one was seriously injured and the boat was still seaworthy. Leo Enggasser / Amazing Animals+/TMX Footage shows the aquatic creature leaping out of the water and landing on a 19-foot boat around 10 a.m. near White Horse Beach. Leo Enggasser / Amazing Animals+/TMX Port officials have been monitoring whale activity in the area since Friday after a boat accidentally struck a whale. Leo Engasser / Amazing Animals+/TMX
“They’ve been there for the last three days straight, so there’s a lot of whales, but they’re also attracting a lot of boaters, which creates a problem obviously after today,” boater Chris Grant said.
“They’re beautiful creatures, but you know, you have to keep your distance, they’re still animals, you know?”
Officials have said that with the increase in bait fish, more whales have been attracted to the shoreline. Boaters are also reminded that under the Marine Mammal Protection Act they are required to stay a minimum of 100 feet from mammals.
Plymouth Port officials said there is no apparent violation of the law at this time.
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