Death of a Man in Australia After Whale Collides with Boat

Authorities confirmed that a man has died and another has been hospitalized today, Saturday, in Australia after a whale struck their boat and capsized it during a fishing trip. Police stated that a man was retrieved unconscious from Botany Bay off the coast of Sydney and later died, while the other was taken to the hospital in stable condition. New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley said, "There is a whale involved in the incident; who would have thought this would happen? It is extremely tragic." Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib described the incident as "very strange." The police indicated in a statement that the boat "likely collided with a whale or was affected by its breach, causing the boat to tilt and the two men to be thrown overboard." The type of whale was not specified. Australia's extensive coastline is home to ten large whale species and 20 smaller species. While human deaths caused by whales in the area are rare, Australia and neighboring New Zealand are known for mass whale strandings on their shores. Eight Danes were rescued in June when their sailing vessel capsized in the Pacific Ocean after colliding with one or two whales.