You’re going to need a bigger boat.
In a dramatic incident off the coast of Rye, New Hampshire, a whale breached beneath a small boat, capsizing it and throwing its two occupants into the water. The event occurred near Odiorne Point State Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Two people were thrown into the ocean after a whale landed on their boat and caused it to capsize off the coast of New Hampshire on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/LtrdibhHVL
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) July 24, 2024
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the whale struck the boat's stern, flipping it onto its side. Fortunately, a nearby good Samaritan rescued the two individuals from the water. Neither the boaters nor the whale sustained any injuries.
Video footage of the breach quickly spread on social media, capturing the moment the whale surfaced and impacted the vessel. This unusual encounter highlights the unpredictability of wildlife interactions in marine environments.
🤍🌿💦🌸🔆👀
– Yellowstone Biscuit Basin Explosion about an hr ago.
– Humpback Whale "collides" with a boat off coast of New Hampshire.— Back to the Garden (@LauraBTTG27) July 23, 2024
Recently in the Bay of Biscay boaters have also had troublesome interactions with whales, specifically orcas.
The Coast Guard responded promptly to the mayday call and coordinated the salvage of the capsized boat. They also alerted the Center for Coastal Studies Marine Animal Hotline and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to monitor the whale's condition.
This incident serves as a reminder of the powerful presence of marine life in New England waters, an area renowned for whale watching. Granite State Whale Watch, operating out of Rye Harbor, is one of the local attractions offering daily trips to observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
The public is encouraged to report whale sightings to local Coast Guard command centers to help ensure the safety of both marine life and ocean-goers.
