A fisherman’s “extremely rare” encounter with a whale saw him get knocked unconscious after he was slapped in the face by the mammal’s tail.
Emergency services were called after reports of the man in his 30s was injured shortly before 9am on Sunday about 1km out from the Tweed Heads bar.
Queensland Ambulance Service Senior Paramedic Scott Brown told reporters the fisherman experience was “extremely rare”.
“You have a little bit of disbelief that it’s happened at first,” Mr Brown said on Sunday.
“Just two guys having a morning fish and all of a sudden a whale’s tail appeared, striking one in the head.
“One, to come that close to a whale and then two, for the whales tail to contact you while you’re in the boat – extremely rare.”
The man who was knocked unconscious remarkably was not knocked from the boat and remained on-board after being struck.
Thankfully, he wasn’t alone and his friend who was driving the boat rang triple-0.
Crews from Volunteers Marine Rescue, water police and paramedics travelled by sea to the man before he returned back to mainland.
The man was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment of his facial injuries.
“(He was) very lucky to get away with the injuries they have,“ Mr Brown said.
“(He was) sore and sorry.
“Couldn’t believe what happened – not really remembering everything that happened but was in a good way.”