Two people have escaped without injury after a breaching whale flipped their boat over near the New Hampshire coast, throwing them overboard.
“The occupants were ejected from the vessel as the boat capsized,” the Coast Guard said. “Sector issued an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB), they directed Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor to launch.”
A bystander got the two individuals out of the water, according to the Coast Guard.
No injuries were reported.
The incident was filmed by a bystander and shared on the social media platform X. It shows the whale breaching the water and hitting the rear of the boat, as two individuals stand on board. The two people are quickly sent flying into the water.
Another clip appears to show the boat floating upside down in the water.
The Epoch Times could not independently verify the video footage and has contacted the U.S. Coast Guard for comment.
The boat crew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor reported that the whale appeared uninjured, the Coast Guard said.
“Sector contacted the Center of Coastal Studies Marine Animal Hotline and NOAA to report the incident,” it said, adding that the boat has been salvaged.
“We are grateful to the good samaritans for taking such quick action to rescue these two individuals. Bravo Zulu!” it said.
Members of the public are being asked to practice safe seamanship and report whale sightings to your their command center at the following phone numbers: Northern New England at 207-767-0320, Boston at 833-449-0539, and Southeast New England at 508-457-3211.
