Boat struck by whale near Fingal Head, south of the Gold Coast, man with facial injuries

A fishermen whose mate was slapped in the face by a whale on a Gold Coast fishing trip says it was a freak accident and that they were just in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.

Boaties are being warned to steer well clear of whales after a fisherman was slapped across the face by the tail of one of the giant mammals in waters off the Gold Coast.

The man was knocked unconscious in the incident, which occurred just before 9am on Sunday about one kilometre out from the Tweed Heads bar.

The skipper of the boat today spoke out about the ordeal.

Jamie French was out on a fishing trip with his mate when their vessel was struck by the whale.

“We didn’t even see it, it just popped up from under us, we hit it, it’s tail must have come around and landed on the back of the boat, hit my mate straight in the face,” Mr French told 7News Queensland.

“It was crazy, I didn’t know what to do because he couldn’t do much.”

Mr French added that his mate was drifting in and out of consciousness following the monumental slap.

“He wasn’t well,” he said.

“It’s just a freak accident, wrong place, wrong time.”

Jamie French said his mate was hit straight in the face by the whale. Picture: Channel 7

After being taken back to the mainland, the man in his 30s was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where he was placed into an induced coma.

It is understood that the man was brought out of the induced coma on Monday and that his condition is improving.

Queensland Ambulance Service Senior Paramedic Scott Brown described the encounter as “extremely rare” and something first responders hadn’t experienced before.

“You have a little bit of disbelief that it’s happened at first,” Mr Brown said.

“Just two guys having a morning fish and all of a sudden a whale’s tail appeared, striking one in the head.

“One, to come that close to a whale and then two, for the whale’s tail to contact you while you’re in the boat – extremely rare.”

Paramedics bring the injured boatie, covered by a blanket, to shore. Picture: Supplied

The injured man being brought to shore. Picture: Supplied

The man in his 30s was able to remain in the boat after being struck – albeit unconscious and suffering facial injuries.

His friend who was driving the boat rang triple-0.

“We were able to triangulate their position through mobile phone and then able to get contact with them” Mr Brown said.

“Very lucky to get away with the injuries they have.”

Crews from Volunteers Marine Rescue, water police and paramedics ventured out to the boat and helped bring the fishermen back to the mainland where the injured man was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.

“(He was) sore and sorry” Mr Brown said.

“Couldn’t believe what happened – not really remembering everything that happened but was in a good way.”

Acting Superintendent Scott Knowles. Picture: Keith Woods.

Acting Superintendent Scott Knowles from Gold Coast police said the incident was a timely reminder to boaties about keeping a safe distance from whales.

“I’m not suggesting these people were doing this, but it’s timely to remind people that there is a restriction around, if you’re looking for whales or whale spotting, there is a 50 metre exclusion zone around any whale, and dolphin for that matter in terms of where a vessel can approach,” he said.

“This is for the safety of the animal, but also the safety of people in that vessel. If a whale, upwards of 60 tonne, if that was to hit a vessel it’s certainly going to cause a lot of damage.

“So just be aware, the volumes of whales, especially now because they’re returning back to the southern ocean with their calves, they’re moving through the Coast as they’re heading south. Just be aware that they’re out there.”

Originally published as Boat struck by whale near Fingal Head, south of the Gold Coast, man with facial injuries