Four sailors were rescued from a life raft in the South Pacific Ocean after a pod of sperm whales rammed their 16-meter yacht, cracking its hull and causing it to sink 250 nautical miles off Norfolk Island.
The crew aboard the Tai Tam were jolted by a sudden impact that damaged the vessel's steering and caused rapid flooding.
After bailing water for hours, the crew deployed a life raft at midnight, watching their boat sink shortly after.
An 18-hour search and rescue operation coordinated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force concluded when the 143-meter container ship MV Sofrana Surville safely picked up all four crew members at 6:00 a.
m. the following morning.
Crew Recounts Whale Impact
Jemma Cooper, an Australian crew member, recalled the initial impact that shook the vessel while she was at the wheel.
"We looked out to our port side, and there were six to eight, a pod of whales there.
So then it became clear that that's what it was," said Jemma Cooper, sailor.
She noted the massive size of the marine mammals swimming beside the damaged boat.
"They were as long as the boat," said Jemma Cooper, sailor.
Her companion, Jeremy Cooper, was resting below deck when the collision occurred.
"It was pretty immediately evident it was very serious," said Jeremy Cooper, sailor.
He described the severe mechanical and structural damage inflicted on the vessel.
"All the steering gear was smashed on the starboard side, and there was a significant amount of water coming in," said Jeremy Cooper, sailor.
Following the rescue, he reflected on the dramatic incident after boarding the container ship.
"We sat in the life raft and watched the boat sink 100 metres away from us – not a great moment," said Jeremy Cooper, sailor.
He expressed relief despite losing the yacht in the remote waters.
"It was wonderful, wonderful, and just a terrible, terrible ending – but luckily no loss of life," said Jeremy Cooper, sailor.
Terry Hetherington, a crew member from New Zealand, detailed the initial response to the incoming water.
"We declared a full mayday," said Terry Hetherington, sailor.
The crew used hand pumps and expansion foam in an effort to keep the yacht afloat before ultimately abandoning it.
