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A video of a man surrounded by a massive pod of pilot whales, as he paddled across the Atlantic Ocean, has gone viral on social media.
The thrilling yet nerve-wracking encounter occurred when Tom Waddington, a solo adventurer, was on a trip from Newfoundland to England.
During his adventure after a light morning drizzle, Waddington found himself surrounded by "long-finned" pilot whales. He documented his experience and shared it on Instagram.
"He (Waddington) found himself surrounded by a school of what we believe are long-finned pilot whales. Initially ten, then twenty, then more and more! It was an amazing experience until one of the excitable whales slammed into the side of his boat," the caption of the post reads.
The situation intensified when one of the whales bumped into his boat, causing him to drop his camera and stop recording for a moment.
"Whilst Tom could see they were just being playful, he was (rightly) terrified that their fun and games could mean that he lost his rudder in the process! As a solo, unsupported ocean rower, losing a rudder would be a major problem."
When he resumed, his voice conveyed a mix of wonder and concern. "I'm two hours in now with these thousands of whales. One bumped the boat earlier, and I'm really scared they might hit it again. It's an incredible sight, but also frightening."
Eventually, the pod swam away, which allowed Waddington to continue his paddle towards England.
"Eventually, they left Tom alone - he was left safe, dry(ish), and with one of the most incredible experiences imaginable."
"This is so cool. A pod of whales is circling the boat and playing around it. I love it, but I'm worried they might hit my rudder. They're so close, see," Waddington said in the video.
Despite the anxiety, Waddington was able to capture the sheer beauty of the moment and described the whales as if they were just "here to say hello".
According to reports from the crew monitoring his journey from the shore, the whales' departure was a relief, although the encounter left Waddington visibly shaken.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these whales often form tight-knit pods and are commonly found in the North Atlantic.
