‘I’m really sorry’: Sea-Doo rider who collided with whale says he never meant to hit the animal
Posted May 6, 2026 7:11 pm.
Last Updated May 7, 2026 6:22 am.
The person who collided with a grey whale while riding a Sea-Doo in the waters off Vancouver Monday evening is speaking out for the first time.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, told 1130 NewsRadio he never meant to hit the animal.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!“I swear on my mother’s life, I had no clue that there was any whale activity,” he said.
He says he has been riding on Vancouver waters for years, and the whole incident happened in less than a second.
“Just out of nowhere… I didn’t even see the blow,” he said.
“I just saw the whale just appear under my bow.”
He says that he wishes he could have had the opportunity to observe the whale.
“We’re all whale lovers. I love whales. I absolutely love marine life; it’s most fascinating,” he said.
“I would have loved to stop and see that grey whale.”
The man was treated at the hospital after the incident and then spent the day with Fisheries and Oceans Canada sharing his safety insights.
“When I went to the meeting, I brought things with me and ideas that they thought were great to maybe prevent something like this,” he said.
Overall, he says, he feels emotional about what happened.
“I’m really sorry.”
