An obstacle he had not anticipated. A man who was windsurfing in San Francisco Bay in California (United States) on Tuesday, March 24, violently fell into the water. Against all expectations, the athlete did not hit a wave, a rock, or even the Golden Gate Bridge. The images of the swimmers present on this sunny day indeed show that the windsurfer caught a gray whale. One of these captured videos was broadcast by local television station KRON4.
Surprised by the mammal
“What an incredible day! Be careful and respect wildlife,” the injured man said on his social networks. That day, several gray whales were wandering in the bay. These marine mammals actually like to swim near the coast, and particularly in this location. Four of their carcasses have already been found in the surrounding area since the start of 2026.
The experienced windsurfer knew that this type of encounter could happen in San Francisco Bay. “I had reduced my speed considerably because I had seen a few whales in the area,” he added. Except that on the way back, one of these whales took him by surprise by appearing right in front of him. He did not have time to react and was thrown several meters.
Stealthy animals
More fear than harm. The man, although surprised by this collision, was unhurt and was immediately able to get back on his board. The gray whale was not disturbed in the least by this shock and just continued on its way. “We are both safe and sound,” confirmed the windsurfer.
Although the nature of this accident may be surprising, the potential for collision with a whale is very real when they are present. “Grey whales can be difficult to spot at sea, especially if you are moving quickly,” Giancarlo Rulli, spokesperson for the Marine Mammal Center, told SFGATE. He recommends that windsurfers in the area slow down as soon as they notice a blow, a sign that one of these mammals is present in the area.
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