Canoeist Dies After Whale Flips Boat

Turtle · Apr 22, 2010

PROVINCETOWN, Mass. - A man canoeing in the ocean waters off Massachusetts has died after the vessel came in contact with one or more whales and capsized.

The accident occurred Wednesday morning in Cape Cod's Provincetown Harbor. A second man in the canoe survived.

The Coast Guard says a vessel owned by a local boat rental company pulled the men from the water, but paramedics were unable to revive one of them. The man's name was not immediately released.

The survivor told authorities that the 12-foot canoe came in contact with at least one whale that surfaced. Investigators believe it was a pod of pilot whales — or possibly dolphins.

The Cape and Islands District Attorney's office is investigating.

The Cape and Islands District Attorney's office is investigating. Man, what was that whale thinking? Who does he think he is, Charles Bronson or something? That whale is soooo in trouble.

Freightdawg · Apr 22, 2010

What is it with these wild animals or mammals? Whales killing boaters, bears killing innocent people who just want to feed them or pet them!

Why can't we all just get along!!!

teamjdw · Apr 22, 2010

were they asian,packing harpoons?

Turtle · Apr 23, 2010

teamjdw said:
were they asian,packing harpoons?

That's what I thought at first, too. But of course, to whales, we all look alike.

louixo · Apr 23, 2010

Maybe they were in a hurry to get to the whale weigh station to get weighed, or catch a twain.

stamp11127 · Apr 23, 2010

Is it just me but shouldn't Ocean + Canoe = Darwin Award?

layoutshooter · Apr 23, 2010

In my book a Darwin award is in order. I wonder, not that it really matters, was it a canoe or an ocean kayak? The latter would make far more sense and tends to be what is rented at most ocean side shops.

Turtle · Apr 23, 2010

It wasn't like they were paddling the North Atlantic from New England to old England. They were in Provincetown Bay off Cape Cod. A lot of people do that every day. Whale watching via canoe is pretty popular up there as well as over in Vancouver Bay, and generally pretty safe. It's rare for a whale to upend a canoe.