Vancouver Collision: A Watercraft and a Gray Whale

On the evening of May 4, 2026, a personal watercraft travelling at speed collided with a gray whale near Siwash Rock off Stanley Park around 7:30 p.m., sending the craft airborne and throwing the rider into the water while many onlookers filmed the scene. The video shows the whale surfacing just before the impact and the craft landing hard seconds later.

Marine Search and Rescue responded to a mayday call and nearby boaters helped the operator; paramedics took the rider to hospital, where he was described as taken to hospital in serious but stable condition. Federal fisheries officers have opened an investigation and Vancouver police are assisting while they identify witnesses and review footage.

Local researchers from the Marine Education and Research Society identified the animal as CRC-2688 and went out to assess its condition; experts did not see obvious injuries and reported the whale appeared active the next day. Officials have reminded recreational boaters that vessels must stay at least 100 metres away from whales and that reducing speed near marine mammals helps avoid collisions, a point that has gained urgency after this event.

The animal had attracted spectators for several days because it had been feeding near English Bay, and that unusual proximity to the city had prompted officials and researchers to monitor its health and movements. While the investigation proceeds and footage is analysed, community groups have called for better education about whale-safe boating, since maintaining distance and reducing speed are proven ways to reduce strikes. If boaters slow down and stay alert, the risk to both people and large marine animals falls sharply.