Teenager is fighting for life after a WHALE jumped out of the water and body-slammed his boat – leaving him in a coma with devastating spine injuries
- The 18-year-old was sailing with a 39-year-old man when the whale hit the deck
- Teenage man had serious head injuries and a suspected fractured neck
- Humpback whales are about 18m long and can weigh up to 40,000 kilograms
An 18-year-old is fighting for life with an injured spine after a humpback whale body-slammed his boat.
The teenager was sailing with a 39-year-old man in North Narooma, on the far south coast of New South Wales, on Sunday morning when the enormous mammal hit the deck of the vessel.
Humpback whales can reach about 18 metres in length and can weigh up to 40,000 kilograms.
Leaping out of the ocean, the whale breached the water and came crashing down onto the boat.
The pair were in a boat near the Narooma boat ramp (stock image) when the whale body-slammed the deck
Humpback whales can reach up to 18 metres in length and weigh up to 40,000 kilograms (stock image)
The older man called for help via marine radio and paramedics met the sea craft at Narooma boat ramp, NCA NewsWire reported.
Both sailors were taken to Moruya Hospital, but the teenager was later flown to Canberra Hospital with serious head injuries and a suspected fractured neck.
The man suffered cuts to his face and a suspected concussion.
They were taken to Moruya hospital (pictured), but the teenager was later flown to Canberra Hospital
Marine Area Command is investigating the situation.
Representatives from the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia and National Parks and Wildlife will monitor the area to ensure the whale not injured.
Humpback whales start to migrate from Antarctica in March and reach the warmer waters of Queensland by June.