Two kayakers are lifted out of the water by Southern right whale off the South African coast
WHALE watchers in South Africa had the fright of their lives when a large Southern right whale lifted their kayak from the water.
THIS group of whale watchers got a little more than they bargained for during an expedition in South Africa recently.
The kayakers were paddling in Hermanus Bay, a popular spot for whale watching when they got the shock of their lives.
A giant Southern right whale swam beneath their boat and came to the surface, lifting their kayak out of the water.
The whale held the kayak on its back for a few seconds before gentling placing it back down and swimming away.
The incredible images were captured by whale lover and photographer Dave de Beer near to his home in Hermanus, Cape Town.
Dave, 50, said he was just metres away from the action and was guiding a group of tourists on a whale watching expedition when he spotted the rare encounter.
“When you are in a kayak, you have an appreciation of how insignificant we are as humans, because these creatures are so huge,” he said.
“The whales are gentle giants they come close to the kayaks, they’re very docile.
“This time the whale came under the kayak and stuck its head out of the water, lifting the kayak out of the water.
“It then appeared next to the kayak as if to say, ‘sorry about that’.
“I just thought, ‘WOW’ it was so very intriguing.”
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