Whale surfaces, capsizes fishing boat off New Hampshire coast

Two people on a fishing boat are safe Tuesday after a whale surfaced beneath their boat, causing it to capsize off the coast of New Hampshire, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The incident happened Tuesday near Odiorne Point State Park. The Coast Guard reported to X that they had received a distress call indicating that a 23-foot center console boat had capsized due to a breaching whale.

“The occupants were ejected from the vessel as the boat capsized,” the Coast Guard said, adding that an urgent maritime information broadcast had been issued and the Portsmouth Harbor Coast Guard Station had been alerted.

“A good Samaritan rescued the two individuals from the water. No injuries were reported,” the Coast Guard said.

The Portsmouth Station boat crew said the whale did not appear to be injured. The incident was reported to the Center for Coastal Studies’ Marine Animal Hotline and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The ship was also salvaged.