Boat collides with whale, 2 dead 3 missing

• A boat off New Zealand reportedly struck a whale Saturday morning.
• The incident occurred near the South Island town of Kaikōura.
• 11 people were on the boat at the time of the accident.

A boat off the coast of New Zealand apparently collided with a whale on Saturday morning, killing two people and leaving three others missing. According to New Zealand news outlet Stuff, the event happened near the South Island town of Kaikura.

Kaikura Mayor Craig Mackle reported that 11 persons were on the boat at the time of the tragedy, with six making it to shore safely.

He stated that the water was “bloody cold,” and that anyone who had fallen overboard would most likely perish.

Locals were assisting with the rescue attempts, according to the mayor, but the town’s mood was “sombre” as they awaited word on those who were missing.

According to Mackle, the water was calm until the whale rose from beneath the boat and flipped it. He wasn’t sure what kind of whale hit the boat, but he did remark sperm and humpback whales were in the area.

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While he had not heard of any previous incidents involving a boat and a whale, the mayor said he had considered the potential in the past due to the quantity of whales in the area.

“It’s constantly in the back of your mind that it may happen,” he explained. In a statement, police stated they were responding to an incident involving a capsized boat. They also claimed that a boat ramp had been closed to the public.

Vanessa Chapman, a local who witnessed the rescue efforts from Goose Bay, near Kaikura, told Stuff she saw a person sitting on top of an overturned boat flailing their arms.

According to Chapman, two rescue helicopters and a local chopper were circling before two divers leaped out. She stated that the person atop the boat had been saved, and that it appeared like a second person had been retrieved from the water.

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