Man dies in Australia after whale strikes boat

1 year ago 15
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An Australian white humpback whale named Migaloo is seen off the coast of Byron Bay, AustraliaImage source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Australia's coastline hosts 10 large and 20 smaller species of whales (file photo)

A whale has struck a boat in Australia, killing one man and leaving another injured, police say.

The men were on a fishing expedition when their boat was hit in waters off La Perouse, 14 km (nine miles) south-east of Sydney.

The alarm was raised after the vessel was spotted unoccupied and circling.

Deaths caused by whales in the region are rare, and a state minister for New South Wales called it "an absolute freak accident".

Police said in a statement the likely collision had caused the boat to tilt, throwing both men overboard.

"Early reports are that a whale may have breached near the boat, or on to the boat," Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro said, adding that she had not seen a similar incident before.

The victim, 61, was found unconscious and died at the scene, officials said.

The 53-year-old skipper was pulled from the water and taken to hospital, where he is in a stable condition.

Australia's coastline hosts 10 large and 20 smaller species of whales. It is not yet clear which species was involved in Saturday's collision.

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