An unfortunate tragedy was reported in New Zealand, when a boat capsized due to what was assumed to be a whale attack. Six people were rescued by divers after falling into the water. Authorities say that the 28-foot boat capsized near the town of Kaikoura, and police are investigating the accident.
A police sergeant of Kaikoura, described the accident as shocking and unusual. When interviewed by the Associated Press, the officer gave his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and local communities and thanked the emergency services personnel for their efforts.
The police sergeant reported that the diving team had recovered the bodies of five victims and that six survivors had been taken for medical treatment at a local hospital and were stable.
The mayor of Kaikoura, Craig Mackle, told the media that it was assumed that the cause of the accident was a whale that had risen from below the boat, because the water had been calm with no tides that would have caused the accident. The possibility of a whale attack was high, as sperm whales were in the area and a few humpback whales had been reportedly traveling through the region.
Mayor Mackle praised the locals for helping out with the rescue efforts. Even though they feared for the lives of the people who had fallen overboard, as the water turned icy cold in the evening, they still had hope that they would find more survivors.
Because whales frequent the region, Mackle said that the possibility of a boat and a whale colliding was always at the back of his mind.
The police did not publicly announce the victims’ names as they were still trying to locate and notify their loved ones.
A local woman, Vanessa Chapman, said that she had watched the unfolding rescue operations from Goose Bay, and that she remembers seeing someone sitting on top of the overturned boat waving their hands as if to alert people that they needed to be rescued. She said that two rescue helicopters and one local helicopter circled the scene before two divers jumped out and saved three people.
Kaikoura is a very popular destination for whale watchers. The area has become a home to some deep-sea mammals like whales and dolphins, and tourists can use charter boats and helicopters to observe them.
According to an article posted by Daily Sabah on their Twitter handle, Maritime New Zealand, the state maritime authority that protects the marine environment and maintains safety and security, investigators will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident.
