A 45-year-old fisherman from Jegathapattinam fishing hamlet in Pudukkottai district, injured in an attack by a baby whale while fishing near Kodiyakkarai in Nagapattinam district, was rescued by Navy personnel on Friday morning.
According to sources, five fishermen hailing from Jegathapattinam ventured into the sea on Thursday in a fibre boat owned by a person called Sivaraman of the same area. As they were fishing off the coast of Kodiyakkarai, it is said that a giant blackish-grey coloured fish attacked them. In the incident, a fisherman identified as Kulanthaivelan, son of Kathamuthu, sustained injuries on his right hand. Besides, their boat was damaged and the crew were stranded in mid-sea.
The stranded fishermen informed Navy personnel stationed at the Thopputhurai Naval detachment. A Navy team rushed to the spot and rendered first aid to Kulanthaivelan.
Later, with the assistance of the Naval personnel, the stranded fishermen managed to operate their boat and were subsequently sent back to the Jegathapattinam coast on Friday morning. Fishermen sources said the Nagapattinam coast had several schools of baby whales which used to prey in shallow waters. At times, they used to attack fishermen for want of food and apparently snatch away their catch.