An Australian teen is in critical condition after his fishing boat was crushed by a breaching whale.
Nick Myhil, 18, suffered head and neck injuries after the whale leapt out of the water and landed on the boat off the coast of New South Wales, about 200 miles south of Sydney.
According to a Facebook post from the New South Wales police’s marine unit, Nick’s stepfather Matt made a mayday call as he navigated the boat back to shore. Paramedics met them at the boat ramp in Narooma and treated both while transporting them to a hospital.
The stepfather was treated at a local hospital for several deep cuts and a concussion while Myhill was later airlifted to a hospital in Canberra where he is still in critical but stable condition. He is in a coma, according to the family.
“The extent of these injuries, and long-term implications is not known yet. Matt and Nick are seasoned fishermen, and this was an accident that could have happened to anyone,” the family said in a statement to CNN.
Authorities have issued a public warning to all boaters to be careful as whales migrate through the region.
While the type of whale has yet to be publicly identified, Australia sees about 40,000 humpback whales migrate through the area this time of the year to head toward warmer waters.