Terrifying video shows a pod of killer whales chasing a fishing boat

 By 
Brian Koerber
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

While fishing off the coast of San Diego on Thursday, two fisherman had a terrifying encounter with a lively pod of killer whales.

According to the clip's YouTube description, the two fishermen were about five miles off Point Loma when they first noticed some animals beneath their boat. It wasn't until the the orcas were very close that they realized exactly what they were dealing with.

Once the men noticed that the animals were orcas, they took off in their 20-foot fishing boat, which easily could have been flipped by the whales. The fishermen say in the video description that the pod consisted of approximately 30 whales, although only a few can be seen in the clip.

The whales chased the boat and continued to jumped out of the water as it sped off; a few times the whales even came just a few feet from the boat. Fortunately, the whales did not attempt to flip the boat, and the men made it back to land safely.

Orca whales, which are actually from the dolphin family, travel and hunt in pods which can consist of up to thirty whales. Despite their name, killer whales rarely attack humans, especially in the wild.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!