14 DAY TRIAL // This Wednesday, a woman died after having been badly injured when a whale jumped out of the water and landed on the tourist boat she was in. Although she was rushed to hospital shortly after the incident, doctors failed to save her life.
It is understood that two or three other tourists were also severely wounded when the marine mammal crashed into the boat. Medical experts are now tending to their injuries. As for the whale, chances are it too was harmed in the collision.
The crash took everyone by surprise
Toronto Sun tells us the incident that led to the woman's death occurred in the waters off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.
The 24 passengers and crew aboard the tourist boat were just returning to shore after a snorkeling trip when the gray whale plunged out of the water right next to the vessel with no warning whatsoever.
The boat's captain realized what was happening and tried to avoid the collision. Unfortunately, it all happened too fast for him to manage to get the tourist boat out of the marine mammal's way.
The gray whale crashed into the vessel and badly injured several tourists, among whom Jennifer Carren from Canada. In fact, word has it that the collision was so strong the woman was thrown into the water.
Local authorities were immediately contacted and the 35-year-old Canadian woman, together with the other injured passengers, was rushed to a local hospital in Cabo San Lucas.
Despite doctors' doing their best to patch her wounds, Jeniffer Carren passed away just hours after the incident. For the time being, the other tourists injured in the crash are in stable condition.
Gray whales are massive animals
Wildlife researchers say that, in this day and age, gray whales are commonly found along the North American and the Asian coast of the Pacific Ocean. Marine mammals belonging to this species can grow to measure 15 meters (50 feet) in length and weigh 40 tons.
Contrary to what some might assume, they are not exactly gentle giants. In fact, there was a time they were referred to as devil fish. This is because, when hunted or otherwise threatened, they don't simply try to swim away. Instead, they turn around and put up a fight.