The Portuguese Air Force swiftly came to the aid of a family-of-five, including three children, who were stranded when their yacht was attacked by orcas and began to sink. A military helicopter was dispatched late on Friday to rescue the family from a fishing vessel that had picked them up after the incident, which occurred more than 55 miles southeast of Peniche. The family, consisting of parents and their three children aged eight, 10, and 12, was safely taken to the hospital without any injuries. The French-flagged 36ft yacht, named Ti’fare, was the vessel attacked by the orcas.
An official statement mentioned that on the night of October 10, the Air Force’s EH-101 Merlin helicopter was deployed to rescue the five individuals stranded on a boat more than 50 km away from Peniche. The sailboat, carrying a family with three children, was damaged by a group of killer whales, leading to water ingress. The family abandoned the vessel using a life raft and were later rescued by a nearby fishing boat.
The rescue operation was initiated by the Air Force’s Lisbon Search and Rescue Coordination Centre following a request from the Portuguese Navy’s Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Centre. The adults onboard managed to send an SOS signal and evacuate to a life raft before their vessel started sinking due to damage caused by the orcas.
The family was airlifted by a helicopter from the fishing boat Silmar, and they were then transported for a medical evaluation. Apart from the Air Force helicopter, a Navy frigate and a lifeboat from the Peniche Port Authority were also involved in the rescue efforts. The family, who had started their journey from Lorient in France, were provided assistance by French consular officials after being discharged from the hospital.
Recent incidents involving orca attacks on boats have drawn attention to the area around Lisbon. Between 2020 and 2023, there have been approximately 500 reported orca attacks, resulting in vessel damage and losses. While no human injuries have been reported, there is an increase in warnings to sailors about interactions with orcas off the Portuguese coast compared to previous years.
The vicinity north and south of Lisbon has been particularly highlighted due to recent orca attacks, with the Maritime Authority issuing numerous warnings to sailors. The incidents have raised concerns, especially in light of previous attacks on boats in the region.