Family Boat Trip Ends as Whale Jumps Aboard
Wed August 20, 2003 10:32 AM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - A British family's vacation was rudely interrupted when a 30-foot whale crashed onto their sailing boat off the east coast of Australia, British media reported on Wednesday.
The 10-ton humpback whale leapt out of the water and pulled the rigging and mast along with it as it slid down the boat.
"I was below deck when there was a hell of a crash from port as it leapt out of nowhere," said Trevor Johnson, who was on the boat with his wife, two sons and a son's girlfriend.
"It's amazing that no one was hurt or killed, but it was a terrifying experience," he told The Daily Telegraph.
The boat was 10 miles away from the shore and the radio equipment did not work.
They were eventually towed to dry land after using a mobile phone to ring for help.
