Would you believe it? Authorities in New Zealand report that five people perished on Saturday after their small charter boat capsized, possibly due to a collision with a whale. Six additional boat passengers were also saved.
The boat, which had 11 people on board, mostly from a bird-watching group, capsized in calm waters shortly after 10am (6am Malaysia time) at Goose Bay, about 15 km south of Kaikoura.
What made the authorities more perplexed is how the boat capsized in “flat, perfect” conditions after the collision with a whale, and confirmed it was a time of year when whales were prevalent off Kaikoura’s coast, a popular tourist resort. Police rescued six people with minor injuries.
