Two men in New South Wales, Australia, are being treated for injuries after an accident they had on their boat when a whale attacked them.
Nick, 18, and their 39-year-old stepfather, Matt, were fishing in North Naruma on Sunday morning when a huge whale jumped out of the water and hit the deck of the boat. Matt, who was slightly injured, reportedly "saved Nick's life" when he acted quickly and called for help.
Despite the fact that the 18-year-old has escaped death, his family said in a statement to the "Daily Mail Australia" that he is in a coma and they do not know if he will ever wake up.
Note that these whales can reach 18 meters in length and weigh up to 40 tons.
"We do not know when he will wake up and if he wakes up"
Family friend Carmen Bartley ran a Go Fund Me campaign to cover Matt's medical expenses. "At this stage, we do not know when he will wake up or how he has affected his brain," Bartley said. He explained that the family will need to make modifications to their home to be accessible and easy to use for the 18-year-old.
The maritime area commander, Inspector Joe McNally, said Maritime NSW had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. "While investigations are still in their infancy, the incident shows the dangers these mammals can pose to those in the water," he said. "In recent days, the number of whales migrating to the north has increased dramatically and port authorities have received reports that they are traveling closer to the coast than in previous years."
