A tourist snorkelling off the coast of Australia reportedly suffered severe injuries after an encounter with a whale.

Woman in "serious but stable condition"

On Aug. 3, a 29-year-old woman had been exploring Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, a World Heritage site well known for its biodiverse coral reefs.

AFP reported that she was then struck by the tail of a whale.

According to an AFP spokesperson, the woman sustained "chest injuries", and had to subsequently be airlifted to the Royal Perth Hospital.

She was said to be in a "serious but stable" condition after suffering a "crush from being hit by a whale's tail".

Reportedly hit by humpback whales

Australia media WAToday reported that the woman had been hit after swimming close to two humpback whales, a mother and a calf.

The tour operator told Nine News Perth that the incident happened soon after she entered the water while on a snorkel tour.

The mother whale apparently placed herself between her calf and the group of snorkelers, who were situated 30m away as per protocol, and started to exhibit "classic defensive actions" such as slapping her fins and tail on the water.

The tour operator said this was when the woman was hit. She reportedly suffered from fractured ribs and internal bleeding.

A snorkeler is being treated in Royal Perth Hospital after being struck by a whale tail in Exmouth. Witnesses say it was a freak accident involving a mother whale and her calf. @renaehenry9 #9News | Nightly at 6.00pm pic.twitter.com/KQu9yH8Cvk

— 9News Perth (@9NewsPerth) August 3, 2020

7News wrote that the woman was reportedly not the only person injured during the tour, with others being treated for cuts and bruises.

In contrast, BBC reported that the woman had been hit by a whale shark instead of a whale.

Ningaloo reef is famous for its close-up encounters with marine life, where large numbers feed in the area during the months of April to July.

According to WAToday, swimmers must not approach within 30m of a whale.

If swimmers are approached by a whale to within the 30m-limit, swimmers should take "all reasonable steps to avoid contact with the whale" and maintain a distance of at least 15m.

Interactions between swimmers and whales are also banned if there is a whale in the pod that is less than half the size of other whales, for example, a calf.

Top photo from Pixabay