A sperm whale struck an Australian-flagged yacht in the remote South Pacific, forcing its four sailors to abandon the vessel.
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The New Zealand Defence Force deployed a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A surveillance aircraft to help establish radio communications and coordinate the rescue. From the air, the crew were seen waving from the yacht before being transferred to safety.
The sailors climbed a pilot ladder onto the 143-metre cargo ship MV Sofrana Surville, which came to their aid. Footage released by the New Zealand Defence Force shows the yacht sinking in the open sea shortly after the rescue.
The sailors were all rescued safely.
