Video | A humpback whale swallowed two girls in California but spit them out after a few seconds

2024-07-14 2024-07-14T10:36:25Z

World Weather - Controversy returned this week over a video clip showing two women falling out of a kayak due to a humpback whale about two years ago.

The video that spread on Facebook made some wonder: Were they swallowed?

A humpback whale swallows two girls in California

In November 2020, Julie McSorley and Liz Cottrell were whale watching off the coast of Avila Beach in California, when they were startled by a humpback whale, causing them to fall out of their kayaks. The video showed that the whale had swallowed the two boats and the two girls and then spat them out a few seconds later. Below is what one of the girls narrated. The two girls about the incident.

McSorelli recounted her experience in an interview with CNN affiliate KMPH, saying:

"I saw a big school of fish, and a big ball of bait coming out of the water. Then I saw the whale approaching and I was suddenly in the water."

Cottrell stated in a 2020 interview that the whale was very close to her, and she thought she would push it away if it got any closer. “I thought it was going to land on me,” she said. “And suddenly, I was underwater.” After the accident, the two women were able to get out of the water with the help of paddleboarders and other boats, and neither of them was injured.

McSorelli explained that some people thought the whale was carrying a kayak in its mouth.

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Federal guidelines recommend staying at least 100 yards away from these protected animals, to minimize any potential interactions. Whale & Dolphin Conservation confirmed that ship strikes can harm whales, and pose a danger to humans and ships as well.