More than 1,000 whales escort man rowing solo across the Atlantic

A UK-based rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean found himself with some unexpected company earlier this week. 

Tom Waddington is a ski coach making the 2,000 journey from Newfoundland to Penzance in a one-man vessel, raising money for mental health charity Mind. 

A video uploaded to his Instagram account, where he has documented the trip, shows him joined by a large school of what he believes was a pod of pilot whales.

He said: ‘This is so cool. What a special treat. 

‘I love it… but I’m scared they’re gonna hit the rudder.’

Soon after expressing his concerns, one of the pods, which Waddington thinks may have been 1,000 strong, slammed into the side of his boat. 

Thankfully, however, the rudder remained intact, allowing Waddington to continue his journey.

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Reflecting on the encounter afterwards, he said: ‘They were just playing and going under the boat and I was taking videos.

‘And I was like, Oh my God. And suddenly it turned from David Attenborough into Moby Dick. I was really scared.’

Waddington added that the school appeared when he was feeling in rather low spirits after a somewhat rain-filled morning. 

However, after being rammed, Waddington felt it was time for them to part ways. 

He initially tried shouting and splashing his oars before veering a little further north, though the whales continued to follow him. 

Waddington called into his team on land, who suggested he try not to engage with the pod. 

After about two hours, the whales lost interest and swam off, leaving Waddington what he described as ‘whale-fueled adrenaline’ for the rest of his voyage.

‘Eventually, they left Tom alone,’ the post on his Instagram read.

‘He was left safe, dry(ish), and with one of the most incredible experiences imaginable!’

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