"It was coming at great speed in between the sailboats and the shoreline again," Savage said. "The whale surfaced and the [jet ski] collided with the whale."

He watched and said the person was "thrown" from the jet ski and heard him calling for help.

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[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 16 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I hope the whale is okay.

update: whale appears to be doing okay

[–] snoons@lemmy.ca 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

What an asshole.

[–] rozodru@piefed.world 11 points 2 weeks ago

If I see someone biff it on a jetski or a motorized scooter on the sidewalk then no I didn't see shit.

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Doesn't look intentional but the person was going way too fast.

[–] DiarrheaSommelier@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 weeks ago

Several witnesses claim he was going back and forth over and over again while the whale was surfacing and spouting, so he definitely saw that there was a whale there. Being extremely close to the whale was 100% intentional, and going way too fast was 100% intentional.

Did he hit it on purpose? No, probably not. But was every action that led to the collision intentional and avoidable? Absolutely.

DFO should throw the book at this asshole. Maximum every available consequence.

[–] BreadOven@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago

Hopefully they are charged. From the article:

"This guy had previously gone past on a personal watercraft, like he was going at a very high speed, and the whale had [surfaced] probably about five times in two minutes," Connolly said.

Fuck that driver.

[–] rbos@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I hope he survives to regret being stupid. Jetskis are the worst.

[–] girlfreddy@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I don't have a problem with jet skis. I do have a problem with the idiots who drive jet skis.

Mandatory licensing and big fines for breaking the rules already in place should be adopted.

[–] rbos@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 weeks ago

I do have several problems with jet skis but I would also be satisfied with some better licensing and enforcement.

At least the PCOC requirement is there but it is not well enforced, and the card itself is much too easy to get.

[–] 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 weeks ago

Interesting they write "struck by jetski rider" to show the operator's responsibility...

But when its a car driver they say, "child struck by SUV"... implying the operator had no choice in the matter

[–] iamthetot@piefed.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Some hostility in some comments that I'm caught off guard by. In the video I watched it looks like an accident. I don't know how you could plan on a whale breaching right in front of you.

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I know that area, that part just outside Stanley Park, Vancouver's landmark urban park, isn't really a place meant for jetskiing. It's not disallowed, and rich people own marina mooring spots around there, but it is a sign of someone who is very inconsiderate of the people around them, including people enjoying the walk and bike around Stanley Park.

[–] AGM@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 weeks ago

I seem to remember the speed limit changing once you get under the bridge. Not to marina-slow kind of speed, but I thought it dropped there. You tend not to see people going through there at speed anyway and it's definitely a point where you need to be careful of wildlife and other things in the water. I don't think there was any intent in hitting the whale, but reckless to be ripping through that area at that speed repeatedly.

[–] Mpatch@lemmy.world -4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

People on lemmy are a bunch if salty jealous types. Where they see some one else being successful or being happy, or enjoying them selves in ways that aren't approved by the basment dwellers. They will swarm and shit on that person.

[–] GuyIncognito@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

kill all owners of motorized watercraft, no exceptions

[–] Mpatch@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Drowning or decapitation via prop on your grandpappys old Johnston.