Fisherman Jordan Mainstone rushed to hospital after he was knocked out by a whale in freak accident off Tweed Heads, NSW
A fisherman who was knocked unconscious by a whale’s tail is now disabled from spinal injuries. Family and friends are helping him recover.
On Sunday, Jordan Mainstone was fishing with a friend in a small boat about 1km off the coast of the northern New South Wales town of Tweed Heads when a whale emerged from underneath the boat and struck him with its tail.
Mr Mainstone was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital, where he spent more than a week being treated for spinal injuries.
The water police and emergency services jumped into the can with Mr Mainstone to bring it ashore.
βThey wouldn’t take him off the boat because they thought he had a neck injury,β said John Murray of Marine Rescue NSW.
Jet skiers Brady and Adam Bell were nearby and watched the astonishing incident.
βIt was just unfortunate, bad timing β the boat came, the whale showed up and it was just inevitable,β Adam said.
The couple said everyone in the ocean should be aware that they were in the ‘whales’ playground’.
Jordan Mainstone (pictured left) was fishing from a can with a friend on Sunday, August 18, about 1km from the northern New South Wales town of Tweed Heads, when a whale surfaced beneath the boat and struck him with its tail
A Gofundme page was established to assist Mr Mainstone with medical and other expenses while he recovers,
“Jordan was fishing with a friend at the Tweed bar, as they had done before, when suddenly a whale surfaced under the boat. Jordan was hit in the face with its tail and was knocked unconscious,” the page reads.
He was rushed to GCUH (Gold Coast University Hospital) and has been in intensive care for 9 days, with his wife Rebecca at his side.
‘He still has a long road to recovery and it is uncertain when he will be able to return to work.
‘Rebecca was also unable to work during this time. Depending on Jordan’s recovery time, she may also be unable to work for a while.’
Authorities said the incident was extremely rare but that those out on the ocean should be aware of whale activity
The page, created by Samantha Johnson, had already raised more than $2,000 of its $10,000 goal as of Wednesday morning.
AAuthorities said it was an extremely rare occurrence, but reminded those out on the water that whales often surface along their migration routes at this time of year.
βI’ve been doing this for 22 years and I’ve never heard of a whale hitting someone on a stationary boat,β Murray said.
“We have seen boats come into contact with whales before, but never with a person in a boat.”