Canadian Woman, 35, Killed and Two Other Tourists Injured as Breached WHALE Lands on Their boat in Mexico
- A Canadian tourist was killed while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- The woman, 35, was returning from a snorkeling trip in the Sea of Cortez
- A gray whale breached and landed on the boat, injuring another two
- Jennifer Carren was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead
Daily Mail UK, 12 March 2015
A Canadian tourist was killed by a gray whale when it breached and landed on her boat during a Mexican vacation.
The 35-year-old woman, named as Jennifer Carren, was returning from a snorkeling trip in the Sea of Cortez off Cabo San Lucas when a breached whale landed on her boat, tossing her into the water.
She was taken to a hospital where she later died, while two other individuals on the vessel were said to have received 'considerable' injuries.
A California gray whale breaching in Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico (file photo)
The incident occurred as the woman was on a whale watching tour run by Cabo Adventures. Pictured is a frame from one of their promotional videos
Firefighter commander Juan Carvajal Figueroa said she was in a boat with other tourists returning to port around noon when the whale jumped from the water and landed on the boat.
She was tossed into the water, and the captain and another tourist both jumped into the water to try and save her.
However, their efforts were in vain and Mexican navy personnel responded to the scene and moved her to shore.
In a statement, tour operator Cabo Adventures said the boat’s captain 'had to make a movement to avoid a whale that surfaced just in front of the boat.'
It added that the whale hit one side of the boat, causing injuries to the woman and two others. The boat was carrying nine tourists on a snorkel tour at the time.
Reports that Canadian consular officials in the area were assisting the woman's family.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said:
'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of a Canadian citizen who passed away in Mexico.'
Gray whales can reach 49ft in length and weigh 36tonnes and are known to frequent Mexican waters, where they migrate annually between their feeding and breeding grounds.