Off the coast of New Hampshire in the United States, an unexpected incident recently occurred involving a massive whale that leaped out of the sea and collided with a 23-foot (7-meter) fishing boat, causing it to overturn and tossing two crew members into the water. Fortunately, both individuals were later rescued unharmed.
The United States Coast Guard released a statement on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on July 23rd, reporting that a distress signal was received indicating that a fishing boat near Odiorne Point State Park capsized due to a whale breaching the surface.
Upon the capsizing of the fishing boat, the two crew members on board were thrown into the sea. Thankfully, Good Samaritans rescued them and they sustained no injuries.
The Coast Guard further mentioned that emergency broadcasts were issued in response to the incident, and the Portsmouth Harbor unit was notified. The fishing boat has since been salvaged.
According to WCVB TV station, 19-year-old Wyatt Yager from Maine and his 16-year-old brother Colin were fishing in the area when the event unfolded. Colin started filming upon spotting the whale and captured the entire incident, with Wyatt inadvertently becoming part of the foreground.
The Yager brothers also assisted in rescuing the overboard crew members Gregg Paquette and Ryland Kenney, with Kenney expressing gratitude for their help.
Reflecting on the incident, Kenney stated, “Everything seemed to be in slow motion, very surreal.” Although it lasted only a brief 8 seconds, it felt like a slow-motion movie scene to him.
Kenney added, “It’s a miracle that I’m alive.” At the time of the event, his sole thought was to ensure his survival.