A FISHERMAN was knocked out by a whale while sitting on a small boat – sparking a massive rescue operation.
Paramedics rushed to help the man, jumping into the dingy while volunteers guided them back to shore.
The 40-year-old seafarer was rushed to hospital with serious spinal and facial injuries but is in a stable condition.
He was relaxing on the water with another fisherman when a huge whale’s tale burst out of the ocean and struck him in the head near the NSW-Queensland border.
Critical care paramedic Scott Brown from Queensland Ambulance Service described what happened as “extremely rare” and “extraordinary”.
He told 9 News: “All of a sudden a whale’s tail appeared striking one in the head.”
The skipper and passing jet ski riders raised the alarm just before 9am.
Paramedics arrived and boarded the vessel as they didn’t want to move the fisherman incase he had neck injuries, according to John Murray from Marine Rescue NSW.
“I’ve been doing this for 22 years and I’ve never heard of a whale actually hitting someone on a stationary boat,” he added.
“We’ve had boats come in contact with whales before but not actually a person sitting in a boat.”
Queensland police say the man didn’t know the whale was there until it appeared in front of him.
A spokesperson from Queensland police said: “[We] urge all boaties to always wear life jackets.”
He added: “Fortunately this man remained in his boat.”
The man was brought to shore by paramedics and taken to Gold Coast University hospital.
Queensland Ambulance Service said he was in a stable condition.
