At the popular Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, a 29-year-old woman has been seriously injured while swimming with humpback whales. She was with a tour group and reportedly suffered fractured ribs and internal bleeding.
Reports say that she was trapped and crushed between two of the giant mammals, which can grow to over 60 feet long. She suffered fractured ribs and internal bleeding when she was hit by the tail of one whale.
She was flown to a hospital in Perth, where she was in a "serious but stable condition" as of yesterday. Other guests on the snorkeling tour witnessed the incident but were uninjured. Chartered swimming with humpback whales is currently undergoing a five-year trial in the region, monitored by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA). The DBCA notes that nearly 10,000 participants have swum with humpback whales since the trial began in 2016, with no previous incidents resulting in serious injuries.
Source: Fox News
Photo: Getty Images