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Horror moment tourists are catapulted into the air after guide boat strikes whale off Mexico coast
This is the terrifying moment a huge Pacific whale pummeled a speeding Mexican tour boat from below, sending its passengers flying.Five tourists including three children were hurt in the violent lurch off the coast of Mexico on Friday, with three members of the group taken to hospital by the navy.
Video shows the immense whale sending the boat into the air after it appears to collide with the giant mammal sitting just under the water surface.
The incident took place off the east coast of the Baja California peninsula, a famous tourist haunt and a haven for whale watchers from around the world.
Authorities insist tour boats must be kept a safe distance from marine animals at all times.
The boat was reportedly exceeding the speed limit at the time it was flipped. The whale emerged rapidly from just below the surface and violently bumped the small tour boat
The flimsy boat nearly turns over as passengers were captured flying high above the vessel
The Attorney General is now probing claims the boat was exceeding the speed limit.
A civil protection official added the vicious bump may have come as a complete surprise to the ship's captain.
They published the video in an attempt to aid their investigation.
Spokesperson Benjamin Garcia said: 'The whale came up from the sea and that is when it pushed the boat, with some passengers falling and suffering injuries.'
Mr Garcia added that a Mexican Navy rescue unit attended the scene and took the injured passengers to hospital.
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It's not known what species of whale bumped the boat or whether it was injured in the incident
The Gulf of America coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico is a world famous whale watching spot
The boat had carried a trip to Isla Espiritu Santo in the Gulf of California and was on its way back to port in La Paz.
It's unclear which species of whale tipped the boat or whether it was injured in the incident.
The months after December are the best for whale watching in the waters surrounding Baja, which have become world famous for sightings of humpbacks, blue, orca, sperm and grey whales.
Between December and early April between two and three thousand blue whales migrate to its shallow lagoons to meet mates and give birth.
The Baja bay is also a UNESCO protected wildlife site, meaning whales are protected from big boats and hunters.
Small boats often get very close to the world's largest animals - but authorities strongly advise they keep a good distance from whales.
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