Credits: Social Media
‘Terrified’ paddleboarder remained calm in Atlantic Ocean crisis as whales approached
A paddleboarder was caught up in a pod of whales while rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, and despite being ‘terrified’, the paddleboarder’s quick thinking saved him in the scary situation.
The deep seas are as much of a mystery as space, even if some expert scuba divers warn you over diving with dolphins, and the news is dominated by incredible stories. Despite all the explorations humans have done on top and underneath the waves, some mysteries still linger, whether what’s in the deepest part of the water or if you can swim with a shellfish allergy. One paddleboarder captured the moment a pod of whales swam beside him, and how one excited member starting knocking his boat. Tom�Waddington is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean for charity, and the brave sportsman recently filmed an hours-long encounter where large whales began knocking his boat – leaving him scared for his life.
Whales start knocking paddleboarder’s boat
Tom is a Yorkshireman living in Switzerland, working as a ski instructor. The skier and coach is currently solo rowing across the north Atlantic Ocean to raise money and awareness for Mind, the British mental health charity.
The rowing journey is being documented on Tom’s Instagram (@tomwaddington_skier) whereby a social media team is keeping his followers up to date with the adventure, sharing photos and videos sent by Tom.
Footage shared on July 8 shows Tom finding himself surrounded by a pod of what he believes are long-finned pilot whales. The group initially consisted of ten whales, then twenty, until Tom reported that ‘thousands’ surrounded his boat.
Long-finned pilot whales have two very long flippers; they are crescent-shaped and have pointy tips. Whale and Dolphin Conservation reports the maximum length of males is a whopping 7.6m while females are 6.0m.
Tom is shown excitedly filming the amazing experience when one of the excitable whales slams into the side of his boat. Whilst he noticed they were just being playful, he was terrified to lose his rudder in the process. In the clip, Tom announces: “I love it, but I’m scared that they’re going to hit my rudder.”
The caption of the viral video explains that since Tom is a solo, unsupported ocean rower, “losing a rudder would be a major problem.”
Being stranded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is some people’s worst nightmare, so now imagine adding a group of huge marine animals into the mix!
Expert’s quick thinking saved him from a whale of a problem
Tom tried to row away from the pod of whales, but they followed him and their numbers grew. Two hours later, he reported he had been rowing with thousands of whales: “I don’t know what to do, I’m s******* myself that they’re going to hit the boat, I can’t believe it, it is an amazing sight but also so scary.”
Waddington called his coach, Charlie Pitcher (who has himself rowed across the Atlantic) for advice, and he simply encouraged him to be quiet and still”, which Tom explains “is exactly the opposite of what I did” earlier.
Tom Waddington’s quick thinking encouraged him to get hold of the paddle so he wouldnt lose it and start rowing to make his way ever eastward.
Eventually, the whales left the solo rower alone, the encounter didnt harm the boat, or its progress across open water, but it sure did leave Tom with an incredible experience to look back on.
Waddington’s whale-fueled adrenaline, along with favorable winds and waves, has meant his boat is making good progress. You can�track its voyage online via Mind Oar Matter.
Tom Waddington is a skier and coach who is solo rowing the North Atlantic Ocean 2024 to raise awareness and money for Mind Charity using his Just Giving fundraiser.
