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Date Published: 07/04/2022

ARCHIVED - Catamaran rescued off coast of Cadiz following killer whale attack

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The lone crew member was left floating on a rudderless boat off the Andalucía coast

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Catamaran rescued off coast of Cadiz following killer whale attack

A fisherman in Andalucía had a terrifying experience this week when his boat was left aimlessly floating off the coast of Cádiz following an attack by killer whales.

Shortly after 4.30pm on Wednesday April 6, the Salvamento Marítimo emergency service received a call for assistance from the 12-metre long catamaran Zina, which had suffered a broken rudder just over two miles from Barbate when a pod of orcas hit the vessel.

Also of interest: Marine rescue tow another yacht into Cádiz after killer whales disable the rudder

Tarifa Coordination Centre contacted a nearby fishing boat to establish the exact whereabouts of the Zina, and rescue vessel Salvamar Enif was dispatch to return the lone crew member to shore.

Attacks by killer whales have risen exponentially off the coast of Spain in recent years, with fishing boats in Andalucía proving particularly susceptible. Experts believe that the incidents are down to a few curious and boisterous youngsters getting too close to the vessels, and so far, no aggressive behaviour towards humans has been reported.

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Image: Wikimedia Commons

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