TWO South African sailors have had a lucky escape after a 10-metre southern right whale breached alongside their boat and came crashing down on top their deck.
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Paloma Werner, 50, and her companion, Ralph Mothes, 59, escaped without injury, however the whale did destroy the boat's mast and roof.
The whale was also unhurt in the incident, which took place off the south-eastern coast of the country, near the town of Hermanus on Sunday.
The 10 metre, 40 tonne mammal was photographed by a passenger on a nearby boat.
"It really was quite incredible but very scary," Mr Mothes was quoted in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper.
"We'd spotted it about 100 metres away and thought that was the end of it. Then suddenly it was right up beside us."