SURVIVING BIRD WATCHERS HAVE A WHALE OF A TALE TO TELL

Five die after ‘whale capsizes boat’ on bird-watching tour in ‘unprecedented event’ in New Zealand

Eleven people were on board the bird watching tour when their boat capsized off the South Island of New Zealand.

 

 

By Rhiannon Lewin 

 

 

7News.com.au

Septembber 11, 2022

 

 

 

A helicopter flies overs an upturned boat with a survivor sitting on the hull off the coast of Kaikoura, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022

 

Five people have died in a tragic boating accident when a whale capsized their boat while on a bird watching tour on Saturday morning.

Eleven people were on board the boat when it capsized in Goose Bay near the South Island of New Zealand.

Police believe the 8.5 metre Kaikoura charter boat flipped after a whale swam underneath the boat.

One witness said that around 11am she saw an upturned boat in the water with a sole person sitting on top waving their arms, according to NZ media outlet Stuff.

The boat is believed to belong to a local fishing charter business, and a group of women were on board. Six were rescued.

The capsized boat triggered a large search operation, which went on for several hours throughout the afternoon, as divers and helicopters attempted to locate those onboard.

 

An aerial view shows a rescue boat arriving by the capsized boat

 

It is understood no Australians were involved in the incident.

By 4pm local time, the boat, which was previously face down in the water, was towed to shore.

Sergeant Matt Boyce said a “large-scale maritime search and rescue effort” was sparked after the incident.

“Devastatingly, five people lost their lives,” he said.

“Six others were taken to Kaikōura Health Centre to be assessed, one has been transferred to Christchurch Hospital as a precaution — all six are reported to be in a stable condition.

“The Police National Dive Squad have now recovered the deceased.”

Boyce said police are continuing to “provide support to all those involved at this incredibly difficult time”.

“This is an unprecedented event that has involved a significant response from emergency services and members of the Kaikōura maritime community,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with everyone involved, including the victims and their families, their local communities, and emergency services personnel.

Kaikoura Mayor Craig Mackle told The Associated Press six people were safely brought back to shore, but the water was “bloody cold” and the outcome for anybody who fell overboard was not likely to be good.

Mackle said the water was calm, and the assumption was that a whale had surfaced from beneath the boat and flipped it.

He said there were sperm whales in the area, and some humpback whales travelling through.

“It always plays on your mind that it could happen,” Mackle said about the possibility of a boat and whale colliding, due to the frequency of whales in the area.

Mackle said the incident was a “tragic event” that affects the whole community.