'Scariest Moment of Parenting': Mum Films Whale Bumping Into Kayaking Son in Tasmania

A mother experienced “the scariest moment of parenting life” as she watched a whale bumping into her son, who was kayaking in Fortescue Bay, Tasmania.

Melody Barnett told Storyful that she was relaxing and enjoying a wine, when her son, Will, was kayaking on the water on July 2. Barnett filmed a video that shows the moment when a whale appears to approach Will’s kayak.

“Oh my god, you are next to its tail, oh no!” Barnett says and throws the phone on the ground as the whale moves into the kayak. “Oh my god! Stay calm, Will!” Barnett says in the video.

Barnett told Storyful that she also threw her wine glass and took off everything to jump into the water, but the young boy was able to paddle back into safety.

Barnett said 12-year-old Will has been kayaking for many years. “He was super calm and went with the flow. Surreal,” Barnett said. Credit: Melody Barnett via Storyful

Video Transcript

- Oh, crap, I'm right next to it.

- Oh, my god, you're right next to his tail, Will, no. Oh. Come back, Will. Oh, my god, oh, my god, oh, my god.

- He's all right, he's all right, he's all right, he's all right.

- Oh, just-- Oh. Oh.

- He made it.

- Be calm. Just stay calm, Will. Stay calm.

- Oh, crap. I'm right next to it.

- Oh, my god, you're right next to his tail, Will, no. Oh. Come back, Will. Oh, my god, oh, my god. oh, my god.

- He's all right, he's all right, he's all right, he's all right.

- Oh, just-- oh, oh.

- He made it.

- Be calm. Just stay calm, Will. Stay calm.