MORICHES, New York — A group of fishermen got an unexpected close encounter with a humpback whale while boating off the coast of Long Island, New York.
Video shows small fish suddenly leaping from the water before a humpback whale bursts to the surface and slams into the boat.
Steven Heid, his father-in-law and his nephew were fishing Friday when they spotted the whale while heading out of Moriches Inlet. There were also numerous bunker fish in the area, so they cut the boat’s engine.
“It was like a freight train hit the boat,” Heid said.
Heid said they had moved about 300 yards down the beach before the whale appeared close to another boat.
“We were sitting there fishing, and before we knew it, the whale showed up about 10 feet behind the boat next to mine. And I said to my nephew, ‘Oliver, get your camera because you’re in for a treat,'” he said.
His nephew captured video of the encounter.
“We got 11 million views in 24 hours,” Heid said.
Heid and his father-in-law have been fishing off for decades and consider themselves conservationists.
“I’m very careful out there. Believe it or not, I felt really bad for the whale,” Heid said.
Boat passenger Steven Bashion said the group had shut off the engine and was mindful of the wildlife around them.
“You have to be respectful. So the engine was off, the baitfish were around us, the wildlife was around us,” Bashion said.
The whale swam away unharmed after Friday’s encounter.
Robert DiGiovanni of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society said people should give whales space.
“You don’t want the animal, you don’t want any of these individuals hurt, so let’s prepare and try to give them their space,” DiGiovanni said.
Bashion said the outcome could have been different with another vessel.
“If it wasn’t such a strong boat, I think we would’ve gone over,” he said.
The 34-foot boat remained seaworthy after the encounter.
Heid said his thoughts quickly turned from the shock of the collision to the potential cost.
“The first reaction was, ‘Oh my God. This was absolutely insane and crazy.’ Second reaction was, ‘Is my insurance company gonna cover this?'” Heid said.
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