Whale Bellyflops on Couple’s Sailboat

Thursday, 22 July 2010 | by Pat's Picks

I guess he didn’t want to be watched. A couple off the coast of South Africa got the surprise of a lifetime when a 33-foot whale they were observing jumped out of the water and came crashing down on their sailboat. The New York Post says south right whales are known for their poor eyesight and maybe have simply not heard the couple because their motor was off.

The Guardian says it’s actually not unheard of for a whale to attack humans. In other words, the story of Moby Dick and Captain Ahab is more than just fiction. But the whale that “attacked” the South African couple was likely a teenager, which are known for being playful.