A humpback whale capsized a small fishing boat off the coast of New Hampshire with two frightened sailors on board.
The large mammal was caught on camera as it swam through the waters off the coast of Portsmouth on Tuesday.
In the shocking footage, the animal can be seen lowering its snout towards the back of the small boat, sending the two people on board into the water.
The boat can be seen floating on its side in the water before it begins to submerge and capsize.
The large mammal was caught on camera as it swam through the waters off the coast of Portsmouth.
Another clip shows the boat being towed by another nearby fisherman who captured the entire scene.
All those on board are known to have escaped unharmed.
It remains unclear exactly when the incident occurred, although footage first appeared on social media early Tuesday afternoon.
Since the video appeared on social media, users have been commenting on the clip.
One person said: “This is crazy. Whales don’t do that by accident.”
Another added: “Crazy to see this,” while others posted: “That boat bent so fast.”
According WGMEThe humpback whale, believed to be about two years old, has been spotted around the Maine-New Hampshire border over the past week.
This is close to where the whale was filmed in Portsmouth.
In the terrifying footage, the animal can be seen slamming its nose into the back of the small boat, knocking the two people on board into the water.
The boat was submerged in water after the incident, which first appeared on social media on Tuesday afternoon.
Another clip shows the boat being towed by another nearby fisherman who captured the entire scene.
It is unclear what caused the humpback whale to breach alongside the ship.
While orcas have been known to attack boats, humpback whales typically only approach ships when they are curious, rather than angry or feeling threatened.
Humpback whales are generally considered gentle, although people who choose to swim with them run the potential risk of being hit by the animal’s caudal (tail) fin if they end up swimming into a blind spot.
Dianna Schulte of the Blue Ocean Marine Conservation Society told WGME: “We hope he leaves the area soon.
“There have been a lot of shad, a type of small fish used as bait, in the river lately. So it’s likely that they have come to the river in search of food.”
Humpback whales measure up to 17 metres in length and can weigh up to 40 tonnes. Their diet consists of krill and small fish.
They were nearly driven to extinction by whaling in the early 20th century, but have made a successful recovery.