A tragic video was captured on Monday, May 4th, of a jet skier slamming into a feeding grey whale at full speed near a Vancouver beach. The collision occurred at a fast enough speed that the jet skier was launched several feet into the air.
According to CTV News, the whale had managed to garner crowds of observers both on the water and on the nearby Kitsilano Beach. Plenty of people can be heard gasping and cursing following the collision.
The collision itself occurred around 7:30pm PT near Siwash Rock. Witnesses told CBC that the jet skier had previously passed through the area at a high speed, turning around and coming in between the sailboats and the shoreline right as the whale surfaced. The individual was thrown off the jet ski and was heard calling for help.
B.C. Emergency Health Services were alerted to a person in need of assistance on the water at around 7:54pm. The individual was brought out of the water to an awaiting ambulance. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is currently investigating the incident.
Canadian laws require that all whales, dolphins, and porpoises be given at least 100 meters (~328 feet) of space on the water, with specific conditions like the presence of a calf pushing for further space.
