A jet ski slammed straight into a surfacing gray whale near Vancouver’s Stanley Park this week, launching the rider high into the air in a wild flip caught on video that’s now all over the internet.
That Monday night, just after seven thirty, it occurred May fourth in Burrard Inlet, near Siwash Rock. For days prior, the animal stayed near land, eating steadily, pulling people toward the seawall in numbers. Kevin Connolly stood among them, camera ready; he noticed a pattern, each surfacing happening again and again in one place.
A split after the whale bursts up, a Sea Doo zips straight into it. Out of nowhere, the collision hurls the vehicle and person through air. Sound kicks in gasps rise from folks lined along the wall. Crashing follows as everything drops back into water.
A tweet from X.
A few boaters nearby, along with members of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, reached the man fast. Out of the water he came, legs hurt, headed straight to hospital serious, though not worsening. Doctors worked on him until he could leave under his own power.
A person on the watercraft wanted to remain unnamed, yet shared his story with nearby news outlets unaware entirely about any whales being close by at the time. Out came a massive animal without warning, he recalled, appearing instantly into view right before impact. Apology followed quickly: no intention existed to strike such a creature. What slipped out was regret laced with disbelief, words stumbling forward like waves after collision. An admiration for ocean beings runs deep within him, something quietly mentioned only afterward. Given another chance? A pause would have happened. Just watching. That choice haunts now. Motion wasn’t needed.
Luckily, the whale appears fine. Afterward, wildlife staff watched its behavior closely by the following day, it was eating and swimming like usual, just as it has been ever since. Experts recognized it right away: CRC-2688, a familiar visitor to these waters who’d often show up near shore, delighting people around town.
Now looking into it: Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans along with Vancouver Police. Boats must keep 100 meters back from gray whales, that is the rule there. Close approaches or fast movement nearby those actions carry heavy consequences under Canadian law. Penalties follow if limits get ignored.
The video blew up fast on X, TikTok, and Reddit after it was shared by accounts like Collin Rugg. Plenty of people online slammed what they called reckless jet ski behavior in busy waters. Some witnesses claimed the rider had been going fast earlier and people had yelled at him to slow down. Others said it was just terrible, unlucky timing.
The incident has kicked off fresh arguments about jet ski safety and protecting marine life in busy urban spots like Vancouver’s waterfront. A Change.org petition calling for restrictions on jet skis in the harbour picked up thousands of signatures quickly.
In the end, both the rider and the whale made it through, but the dramatic footage is a stark reminder of how crowded our coastal waters have become and why everyone needs to stay alert and respectful out there.
