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Massive Whale Breaches and Body-Slams 55-year-old Surfer in Australia

Massive Whale Breaches and Body-Slams 55-year-old Surfer
Screenshot from "Video captures "one in a million" moment whale body slams surfer in Australia" via CBS News, youtube.

Australian surfer Jason Breen experienced a “one in a million” encounter while wing-foiling at Mona Vale Beach in Sydney when a breaching whale slammed into him.

Capturing the Moment on GoPro

Massive Whale Breaches and Body-Slams 55-year-old Surfer
Screenshot from “Video captures “one in a million” moment whale body slams surfer in Australia” via CBS News, youtube.

Breen was filming his wing-foiling session with a GoPro when the unexpected incident occurred, capturing the dramatic moment on video.

The Whale Emerges

Massive Whale Breaches and Body-Slams 55-year-old Surfer
Screenshot from “Video captures “one in a million” moment whale body slams surfer in Australia” via CBS News, youtube.

As Breen surfed, a whale suddenly breached the surface, colliding directly with him and knocking him off his board.

Dragged Underwater

Massive Whale Breaches and Body-Slams 55-year-old Surfer
Screenshot from “Video captures “one in a million” moment whale body slams surfer in Australia” via CBS News, youtube.

The impact caused Breen to be dragged underwater for about 30 feet as his leg rope got caught in the whale.

A Fortunate Escape

Massive Whale Breaches and Body-Slams 55-year-old Surfer
Screenshot from “Video captures “one in a million” moment whale body slams surfer in Australia” via CBS News, youtube.

Breen managed to escape when his leash broke, allowing him to surface and avoid serious injury.

Reflection on the Experience

Bubble Net Feeding
Bubble Net Feeding humpback whale. Image via Depositphotos

Breen recounted the event, noting the potential danger if the whale had barnacles on its skin, which could have caused severe injuries.

The Juvenile Whale’s Role

Humpback whale under water
Humpback whale under water. Image via Deposit Photos

Breen speculated that the whale was likely a juvenile, as an encounter with an adult whale could have been more dangerous.

One in a Million Chance

Humpback Whale
Humpback whale at Disko Bay (Greenland). Image via Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The rarity of the event was emphasized by Breen, who highlighted the coincidence of the whale breaching at that exact moment and location.

The Role of Bystanders

Humpback whale breaching
Humpback whale breaching. Image via Depositphotos

A bystander on a nearby headland happened to be filming the ocean, capturing additional footage of the encounter.

Immediate Reactions

Humpback whale
Humpback whale. By Giles Laurent – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=142942678

Breen’s immediate reaction was one of shock and disbelief, but he quickly assessed his situation and ensured his safety.

Surviving Unscathed

Humpback Whale
Humpback Whale breaching. Image via Deposit Photos

Remarkably, Breen survived the incident with no major injuries, attributing his escape to the broken leash.

Awareness of Ocean Dangers

whale
Humpback Whale via Unsplash.

The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of the ocean and the importance of being prepared for unexpected encounters.

Sharing the Story

Humpback Whale
Humpback Whale. Image via Depositphotos

Breen shared his story with local news outlets, raising awareness about the potential risks while engaging in water sports.

The Viral Video

YouTube video
“Video captures “one in a million” moment whale body slams surfer in Australia” via CBS News, youtube.

The footage from Breen’s GoPro and the bystander’s camera quickly went viral, drawing attention to the rare event.

Reflection on Luck

Humpback Whale
Humpback Whale tail. Image via Deposit Photos

Breen expressed gratitude for his safety, acknowledging the fortunate circumstances that allowed him to survive the encounter.

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