Two women were injured by a humpback whale while swimming alongside the huge cetaceans off the northwest coast of Australia, local press reported Tuesday.
A 15-meter (50-foot) whale was protecting its calf on Saturday when it swam towards the group of people and wagged its tail in an incident on the Ningaloo reef near the town of Exmouth, television network Nine reported. Network.
The whale’s tail struck a 29-year-old woman, causing her rib fractures and internal bleeding, Nine said.
Woman crushed between two humpback whales while diving at Ningaloo Reef off Exmouth coast https://t.co/U4Z1XdEjbN
— Lynda Lee (@Leel06Lee) August 3, 2020
The woman was airlifted to a Perth hospital on Sunday, where she remains hospitalized in a serious but stable condition, according to the report from the WAtoday portal.
The second woman received an impact from the pectoral fin of the same whale, and suffered a tear in the hamstring, Nine reported.
Woman suffers serious injuries after being struck while swimming with humpback whales at Ningaloo Reef.. #Australia #NingalooReef #Perth #Exmouth #HumpbackWhale #Whales #Swimming #Sea https://t.co/VrruQzucna
— www.THEPIGEONEXPRESS.com (@TPE_connect) August 3, 2020
The Western Australian state government licenses tour operators and imposes the conditions, including that swimmers must remain at a safe distance from the whales they watch.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions noted that it works closely with the industry and the operator involved to understand how the incident occurred.
“Swimming with humpback whales carries a risk,” the agency said in a statement.
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