In a heart-pounding encounter, an Australian windsurfer found himself in a once-in-a-lifetime collision with a juvenile humpback whale.

The astonishing incident unfolded off the coast of Mona Vale Beach in Sydney's north, and it was all captured on a GoPro action camera.

Windsurfer's Bizarre Whale Encounter

News.com.au reports that the windsurfer, Jason Breen, 55, was enjoying a typical day riding the waves when the tranquil scene abruptly transformed into a spectacle of nature's raw power.

The young humpback leaped dramatically from the ocean, landing directly on Mr. Breen, sending him plunging beneath the water's surface. His leg rope snapped in the process, but miraculously, he emerged from the ordeal unharmed.

Speaking about the heart-stopping moment, Breen recalled, "It came down, landed straight on me, and got caught in my leash. It probably dragged me 20 or 30 feet under. To be honest, I thought it was all over, then I felt my leash break, and I thought, 'Thank god' and came up to the top."

9News reports that not only did Mr. Breen capture this remarkable collision on his GoPro camera, but another local, Paul Netteback, also managed to film the incident from a distance. Netteback initially considered continuing to record but wisely decided to prepare for an emergency response instead, dialing triple-0, Australia's equivalent of 911.

The incident took place around 10:30 AM, leaving witnesses astounded and relieved that Mr. Breen walked away unscathed. Breen's belief that the young whale's size saved him holds some merit.

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Humpback Whales: A Closer Look

Humpback whales, renowned for their gentle nature, can grow to an impressive length of 15 to 19 meters and weigh around 40 tons. This juvenile humpback, although substantial, was not fully grown, which likely minimized the impact.

DiscoverWildlife tells us that humpback whales, while generally peaceful creatures, can inadvertently pose a risk to humans due to their size and acrobatic nature.

There have been rare instances where these majestic mammals breached and accidentally collided with boats. In 2015, a tragic incident occurred when a breaching humpback whale landed on a snorkeling tour boat, resulting in the loss of life.

Such occurrences are incredibly infrequent, as humpback whales usually exhibit an awareness of their surroundings and avoid direct contact with boats and swimmers.

Humpback whales' distinctive long and ungainly pectoral fins, which can reach nearly 5 meters in length, contribute to their name, Megaptera novaeangliae, which translates to "big wing of New England." Despite their outwardly cumbersome appearance, these fins are highly hydrodynamic and facilitate their remarkable agility.

The heart-stopping footage of Jason Breen's unexpected encounter with the humpback whale serves as a poignant reminder of the untamed beauty of the natural world. It also underlines the importance of respecting these colossal marine creatures while sharing their domain.

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