The Spanish Coast Guard rescued the occupants of a yacht after a pod of killer whales repeatedly rammed their vessel.
According to a report by Global News, the sailors got into trouble on Monday at around 2 PM. They were two miles off the coastal town of Deba in northern Spain. The sailors sent out a distress signal when the killer whales started ramming their boat.
The coast guard responded, and the pair were taken “safe and sound” to a nearby port. Both sailors were reportedly shaken up by the incident, but were otherwise unharmed.
While it is good news that the coast guard retrieved the sailors, rescuers say the incident is a first for the Basque Country, per The Independent. The outlet points out that encounters are far more common further south in the Strait of Gibraltar in the aptly named “orca alley.”
Authorities Warn Sailors To Learn What They Should Do If They Encounter Killer Whales
The incident had a knock-on effect in the UK. Sailors are now being warned about the potential dangers of killer whales.
Per Bristol Live, Professor Volker Deecke from the University of Cumbria warned, “UK sailors transiting the hotspots should definitely familiarize themselves with the guidance. The same guidance applies for sailors encountering any killer whales in Cornish waters.” The advice tells sailors to turn off the engine and lower any sails if anyone spots orcas in the water. Experts also warn against trying to scare them away with loud noises or echo sounders.
Per the Independent, Professor Deecke said, “For some unknown reason, the killer whales have developed a penchant for breaking the rudders of sailboats and once they have achieved this, they leave the boat alone.” Experts reportedly believe the animals aren’t ‘attacking’ per se, and simply damaging boats out of boredom.
Even if orcas or sharks surround your boat, you’re usually safer on your vessel than in the water. Earlier this month, a surfer went viral on social media after a shark jumped out of the water and hit him in the face. Despite the dramatic encounter, the surfer was fine and escaped with bruises.
“Just another day at the inlet!” he joked.