Nick Myhill GoFundMe reaches $10k after being crushed by a whale

A whale breaching on to a boat off NSW’s south coast, leaving a teenager fighting for his life, has been described as a “one in a million” type event.

A whale breaching on top of a boat off NSW’s south coast, leaving a teenager fighting for his life, has been described as a “one in a million” type event.

Nick Myhill, 18, was injured on Sunday when a humpback whale breached on top of a boat he was fishing off with his stepfather. The force of the impact from the mammal left the gardener fighting for his life in a coma at Canberra Hospital.

His family are by his side and there is little detail of the events leading up to the horrific injury.

Nick Myhill (right), was taken to Canberra Hospital after a whale breached and landed on the boat he was in on Sunday at Narooma.

Whale expert Dr Vanessa Pirotta said the chances of the whale acting like this due to aggression was almost zero.

“It is very, very unlikely the whale would have wanted to leap onto the boat. It appears that these people may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.

“Humpback whales can be very inquisitive but are known to be very gentle. That is why this has raised so many eyebrows in the marine world.

“No one would be able to say how or why this happened. It was a one-in-a-million type event.”

Dr Pirotta said there was no hard evidence as to why whales breach. But there is some research that shows they have used the breach to communicate.

Donations to the family of the 18-year-old have so far surpassed $10,000.

Nick has a fractured spine and severe head injuries and the family is still unsure if he will have lasting injuries.

The whale breached and landed on the boat on Sunday at Narooma.

Nick’s family face an agonising wait to learn the full extent of his injuries after he was knocked unconscious then the whale headbutted him.

“We‘ve been beside him all night and this is our fourth day, Nick hasn’t come out of his coma and the doctors say we won’t know how badly injured he is until he wakes up,” his stepfather Matthew Price said.

“He hasn‘t moved at all, we’re all praying hard he comes good.”

The boy’s mother Kate Myhill insisted her son and partner fish off Montague Island three times a week and were not looking for whales.

“It just happened, it’s whale season, they didn’t anticipate seeing any whales.”

A GoFundMe account has been created to support the teen’s family with the goal of raising $20,000.

“Nick (who is about to turn 19) and Matt were doing what they love. What they have done hundreds of times before. Early morning fishing off the coast of their home town Narooma. Until a freak accident changed the course of their lives forever,” a description on the page said.

“A whale surfaced from under the water, and landed on their boat. They had no warning and no idea the whale was nearby. Both men suffered injuries, however Nick‘s were severe. He is currently in a coma, with a broken back, and severe head injuries. At this stage, we don’t know when he will wake up, or how this has affected his brain.

“Matt‘s quick thinking and actions saved Nick’s life. But now Nick’s family needs help. They are having to stay hours away from their home to be with Nick. Medical expenses will be a burden to them financially. Nick comes from a family of extremely hard workers, and they have never asked anyone for help.”

Nick Myhill is currently in a coma at Canberra Hospital.

There was serious damage to the vessel.

Mr Price and his stepson had been fishing for king fish when the whale flicked its powerful fluke, launching out of the water on Sunday at 7.30am.

“It headbutted Nick front-on, smashing him hard and sending him flying to the back of the boat where he landed with great force on the back of his head,” Mr Price recalled.

“It happened so fast, there was this huge black shadow that flew out of the water from what felt like nowhere, we must have spooked it. I saw a flash of white, his belly, it was twice, maybe three times, the size of the boat and knocked the engine out.

“There was a big loud crash, it was like a giant truck struck us side-on.”

The crash left gaping dents in the boat and knocked out the engine.

Mr Price frantically switched it back on as he called mayday radio for help as he pointed the boat towards Narooma boat ramp.

Mr Myhill’s mother Kate Myhill said she always feared his love of the sea would one day cause his undoing.

“At this stage, we don‘t know if he will come out of the coma, I’m here looking at him on the bed, I wish he hadn’t gone fishing that day,” she said.

“You expect a shark before you see a whale, he loves the sea, he loves fishing, I always told him the ocean is unpredictable but you can’t stop them doing what they love, we’re just praying he pulls through.”