A 10-metre whale knocks a Kiwi surfer unconscious at Bondi Beach

A Kiwi surfer got hit by the tail of a 10-metre whale at Bondi Beach this Monday. Bishan Rajapakse, a 38-year-old surfer, was knocked unconscious during his encounter with the whale.

He remembered talking to the whale when he was less than a metre from one of the ocean's giant creatures. A Bondi lifeguard dragged Rajapakse to the beach after he became unconscious. After waking up from his whale experience while, he recalls seeing the whale a short distance from him before he realised he was no longer on his surfboard.

Rajapakse is a native of Sri Lanka before he transferred to New Zealand. He was surfing on the southern part of Bondi Beach for about an hour when he saw his friend Chris signaling him to paddle his surfboard closer to his location.

When Rajapakse moved closer, he saw a massive, dark shadow and realised it was a whale. He thought the whale was moving in slow motion and saw the whale breach. He could also see the barnacles on the whale as the massive creature went up and down the water. He found the sight of the whale amazing.

Rajapakse was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital. Doctors said he sustained no injuries except for a slight headache.

When interviewed on his hospital bed, Rajapakse said he cannot remember the moment when he was thrown off his surfboard. Contacting whales is not as easy as it sounds. The Kiwi surfer says he remembers thinking whales are nice and soft but can't recall having contact with it.

His friend Chris witnessed the whale hitting him and telling him he was hit when he was face down on the water. Before he blacked out, Rajapaske spoke to his rescuer and before he knew it, he was in an ambulance and on his way to the hospital.

The surfer was apparently in a good mood despite his accident since he joked his brunch was ruined because of his encounter with the southern right whale.