A recent video captures the exact moment of horror, as an open boat flings tourists into the air, ejecting one passenger. Following the incident, six people were injured, including two children and three passengers who were hospitalized, one with severe injuries.
The video, which was shared by the state civil defence office, showed a small open boat speedily sailing and then hitting a whale, sending the boat airborne with the bow tipping up at a 45 degree angle.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon when the boat was returning to the La Paz, Baja California after a trip to to Isla Espiritu Santo in Mexico, according to the Daily Mail.
According to Veracruz en Radio, representatives of the Mexican Navy treated the injured, including a father and two children, whose injuries were minor, but the 41-year-old mother was hospitalized with a liver injury, a fractured hand and a blow to the head.
It was also reported by Veracruz en Radio that the Environmental Attorney’s Office is planning to apply sanctions against the owners of the boat.
“Mexican regulations require boats involved in whale watching to stay a safe distance from the creatures, but the boat involved in Friday’s incident did not appear to be engaged in whale watching — or watching out for whales,” the Associated Press wrote.
Baja California is renowned for being one of the world’s best spots for whale watching between January and April. Under Mexican regulations, all whale watching boats are expected to stay a safe distance from the creatures.
Benjamin Garcia, Civil Protection spokesperson, said the boat’s operators may not have known that there was a whale presence in the area. In a statement, he noted ‘the whale came up from the sea and that is when it pushed the boat, with some passengers falling and suffering injuries. The incident is currently under investigation.
