A man has suffered serious injuries after being struck by a whale while in a tinny in waters near the border of Queensland and New South Wales.
Jetski riders off the coast of Coolangatta called emergency services just before 9am on Sunday when a whale reportedly collided with the man in his boat.
Queensland police say the man in his 40s didn’t know the whale was there until it appeared in front of him.
He was knocked unconscious when he was struck by the whale’s tail, police say.
“[We] urge all boaties to always wear life jackets,” a spokesperson from Queensland police said.
“Fortunately this man remained in his boat.”
The man was brought to shore by paramedics and taken to Gold Coast University hospital where he was treated for facial and spinal injuries.
Queensland Ambulance Service said he was in a stable condition.