Two men hurt after whale watching zodiac collides with humpback
Posted August 8, 2017 5:10 pm.
Last Updated August 8, 2017 7:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – Two men are recovering after their tour boat struck a humpback whale near Victoria.
Ben Duthie with Prince of Whales Whale Watching says the collision happened shortly before 3 p.m. Monday.
“This is extremely uncommon and in the 22 years of operation of Prince of Whales Whale Watching this is the first, so we believe it to be an absolute freak accident that could have basically happened to any vessels in an area where humpbacks use that as their natural habitat.”
Duthie also says the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“One gentleman is still in the hospital, has minor injuries and we have not had any further clarification on that. The other gentleman who had to go to the hospital has been released.”
He adds the condition of the whale, which surfaced near the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, is not known.
“To the best of our knowledge, the animal is not harmed beyond the minor strike.”
A number of agencies, including the Transportation Safety Board and Department of Fisheries and Oceans, are investigating.
Duthie says that’s standard procedure.
