A fishing boat found itself in a harrowing situation when it was hit by a whale on Tuesday morning. The incident took place 6.5 nautical miles from the shore of Lambert’s Bay.
Five fishermen were aboard the open fishing boat when the whale crashed into it. According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), they were luckily transferred to a rescue boat in time to avoid any injury.
“The casualty fishing boat had sustained a crack in the hull,” the NSRI said. “We transferred the five fishermen onto our sea rescue craft and we took their casualty fishing boat under tow and towed the boat to Lambert’s Bay where their boat was recovered.”
All of the fishermen are safe.
“The whale involved is believed to have continued on its way. We commend the fishermen who assisted on the scene,” the NSRI said. “After the fishermen [of the casualty boat] were safely ashore we received a call for a fishing boat suffering motor mechanical failure seven nautical miles West of Lambert’s Bay with four fishermen onboard and they requested assistance. We refuelled our sea rescue craft and rendezvoused with the fishermen finding them safe. A towline was rigged and we towed them to Lambert’s Bay harbour without incident.”
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