Diver, 29, crushed by two HUMPBACK WHALES in freak reef accident leaving her with fractured ribs and internal bleeding
A DIVER suffered shocking injuries when she was crushed by TWO humpback whales in a “freak accident” in West Australia.
The 29-year-old was left with fractured ribs and internal bleeding after becoming sandwiched between the giants – which can weigh up to 30 tonnes.
Witnesses said it was a miracle she survived her ordeal during a diving excursion on the Ningaloo Reef, on the North West Cape.
She was flown to Royal Perth Hospital where she is in the State Trauma Unit in a serious but stable condition.
Other divers were also injured during the tour after being bumped by the whales and were treated for cuts and bruises, 7News reported.
Matt Winter, a spokesman for the tour operators Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, said the incident was now being investigated.
“As far as we can tell it’s a freak accident,” he told NCA NewsWire. “It’s just one of those things that happens with wild animals in the ocean.”
He said the woman became pinned between a young whale and its mother which may have been overprotective.
“It could have been freaked out by other whales in the area … orcas … we just don’t know,” he added.
St John Ambulance WA told NCA NewsWire the woman was a lot of pain when she was rescued from the water.
The tour group had only been a few hundred metres from the shore when the accident happened.
Chartered swimming with humpback whales is currently undergoing a trial in the region, monitored by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
Those taking part are warned to stay at least 15 metres away from the marine giants.
The DBCA said in a statement it was “working closely with the industry and the tour operator involved to understand how the incident occurred.”
It added that swimming with humpbacks involved “some inherent risk”.
The organisation added nearly 10,000 people had swum with the whales since the trial began in 2016, with no previous incidents resulting in serious injuries.
Ningaloo Reef on Australia’s Coral Coast is known for its diversity of marine life and is one of the state’s best-known tourist spots.
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The region is home to the largest known population of 45,000 humpbacks, which are typically regarded as safe to swim among despite the fact they can reach 16 metres in length.
The lifespan of a humpback whale is 60-80 years with individuals maturing at approximately 12 years old.
Females will have only one calf every 2-3 years with their first calf at 11-15 years of age.