Calgary woman killed by whale in Mexico

[Anonymous]

What a terrible and unusual accident..



When I think of boat safety, whales crushing my boat would not be what would worry me.



CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — A 35-year-old Calgary woman has died and two other tourists were injured when a surfacing whale crashed onto their boat near Cabo San Lucas in Mexico on Wednesday.



An Alberta family member identified the victim as Jennifer Karren but declined further comment.



The Attorney General's Office for Environmental Protection says two other tourists suffered "considerable" injuries when at approximately 11 a.m., the whale breached and hit the side of the boat, which had been carrying nine tourists on a snorkel tour.



The Baja California Sur state prosecutor's office says the collision near the beach resort of Cabo San Lucas tossed the victim into the water.



According to the tour company Cabo Adventures, the incident took place on the Snorkel & Sea Adventure as the tour was returning from Santa Maria.



"When the boat was close to the hotel Fiesta Americana, the captain had to make a sudden maneuver to avoid a whale that appeared directly in front of the boat," said Ing. Felipe Diez-Canedo, general director of Cabo Adventures, in a statement.



"The whale hit the boat on one side, which caused two passengers to be hurt and unfortunately, the death of one other passenger."



Diez-Canedo said the captain immediately notified the naval rescue team.



The woman ended up in the water and was pulled out by a guide and another boat passenger.



A passenger, who was a nurse, conducted CPR until the naval rescue team arrived and took the woman aboard their watercraft, where they continued administering first aid.



"On arrival to the marina, the paramedics took the passenger to a private hospital, where unfortunately, the passenger passed away," Diez-Canedo said.



Karren worked at the engineering firm WorleyParsons in Calgary for the past six years, serving in the company's mail services and facilities management section. The company said in a statement that it's providing support to employees who are "deeply affected" by Karren's sudden death.



"Her colleagues remember her as a positive, friendly teammate who was willing to help out wherever she could," the company said in a statement. "She always spoke kindly of everyone with whom she came into contact.



"Jen will hold a special place in the hearts of many, including her teammates of the WorleyParsons Freedom Riders, with whom she participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer for the last two years."



On Karren's Facebook page, she said she decided to take part in the fundraiser to "make a difference in someone's life."



One of the two injured guests was a 45-year-old American woman who sustained a head injury, according to Juan Antonio Carvajal, commander of the fire department in Cabo San Lucas. She is now in stable condition.



Cabo Adventures said one of the injured guests has been released from hospital and the second is travelling back to the United States for further medical attention.



The fire department said they had never responded to a call like this before.



"Incidents involving a whale? No. We have not seen an incident like this before," the fire commander said.



Despite reports that the whale involved in the incident was a grey whale, that information isn't correct, a marine biologist in the area told the Calgary Herald.



"We know it was a humpback," said Anna Madrigal, a researcher who also works as a marine biologist/guide for Whale Watch Cabo.



While this type of accident is rare, there was another incident last year involving a humpback and a fishing boat, she said. No one died in that incident, but at least one person was injured.



"Accidents can happen; you are on the ocean," she said.



Enforcement of whale watching regulations, such as ensuring there is appropriate space between a boat and a whale, is key to ensuring safe practice of this activity, Madrigal said. Mexico has laws to this effect and there are also international whale watching guidelines that most boats follow.



"Generally, it (whale watching) is safe," but it's essential that those leading these expeditions have training and experience in the field of marine biology, she said.



John Babcock, spokesman with Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development, issued an e-mailed statement about the incident.



"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of a Canadian Citizen who passed away in Mexico. Canadian consular officials in Cabo San Lucas are providing consular assistance to the family in this difficult time," Babcock said.



"To protect the private and personal information of the individual concerned, further details on this case cannot be released."

[Anonymous]

^Prolly reminded you of that bible fairy tale about Jonah and the whale.  ac_toofunny Just kiddin, this is the ultimate freak accident for sure.

[Obvious Li]

i didn't know Renee was visiting Mexico....????..... ac_lmfao  ac_dance  ac_toofunny  acc_devil  ac_drinks  

[Anonymous]

i didn't know Renee was visiting Mexico....????..... ac_lmfao  ac_dance  ac_toofunny  acc_devil  ac_drinks  

I wondered who was going to be the first to say that, you or Oak. ac_popcorn

[Obvious Li]

i didn't know Renee was visiting Mexico....????..... ac_lmfao  ac_dance  ac_toofunny  acc_devil  ac_drinks  

I wondered who was going to be the first to say that, you or Oak. ac_popcorn

i'm scared now.....i should delete that.....no sleep tonight..... ac_wot  ac_beating

[Anonymous]

i didn't know Renee was visiting Mexico....????..... ac_lmfao  ac_dance  ac_toofunny  acc_devil  ac_drinks  

I wondered who was going to be the first to say that, you or Oak. ac_popcorn

i'm scared now.....i should delete that.....no sleep tonight..... ac_wot  ac_beating

I know one thing, I wouldn't want to be in your boots when the short, portly Joysey goyl sees that.  ac_razz  ac_dance

[Anonymous]

i didn't know Renee was visiting Mexico....????..... ac_lmfao  ac_dance  ac_toofunny  acc_devil  ac_drinks  

oh oh

[Renee]

i didn't know Renee was visiting Mexico....????..... ac_lmfao  ac_dance  ac_toofunny  acc_devil  ac_drinks  

You're mean.



I hope it makes you feel better about yourself to throw cheap fat jokes at me because obviously you need the ego boost. acc_angry

[Anonymous]

i didn't know Renee was visiting Mexico....????..... ac_lmfao  ac_dance  ac_toofunny  acc_devil  ac_drinks  

You're mean.



I hope it makes you feel better about yourself to throw cheap fat jokes at me because obviously you need the ego boost. acc_angry

Renee c'mon, he's not evs, he wasn't trying to be mean. You make jokes about me eating pets and being unable to drive. Let's not go Hornung here.

[Renee]

i didn't know Renee was visiting Mexico....????..... ac_lmfao  ac_dance  ac_toofunny  acc_devil  ac_drinks  

You're mean.



I hope it makes you feel better about yourself to throw cheap fat jokes at me because obviously you need the ego boost. acc_angry

Renee c'mon, he's not evs, he wasn't trying to be mean. You make jokes about me eating pets and being unable to drive. Let's not go Hornung here.

Sorry to be a little sensitive; sometimes I just get a little tired of it. I guess I sometimes expect too much of people. ac_dunno



Give me a break I've had a rough day. ac_toofunny I've been excommunicated FFS.  ac_toofunny



I'm sorry about the pet jokes and the driving jokes, they are wrong. My mouth runs faster than my brain sometimes.



But don't think I'm going to let you dog sit anytime soon.  ac_lmfao



BTW, you had to go and ruin it didn't you? I was playing the sympathy angle.  ac_toofunny

[Anonymous]

Sorry to be a little sensitive; sometimes I just get a little tired of it. I guess I sometimes expect too much of people. ac_dunno



Give me a break I've had a rough day. ac_toofunny I've been excommunicated FFS.  ac_toofunny



I'm sorry about the pet jokes and the driving jokes, they are wrong. My mouth runs faster than my brain sometimes.



But don't think I'm going to let you dog sit anytime soon.  ac_lmfao

I realize the trauma of being banished from the despicable kingdom will leave scars. ac_lmfao  However, humour is good for whatever ails ya. Don't stop the East Asian jokes on my account. If I go overboard with the fat jokes, don't be afraid to let me know you aren't in the mood at the time. I hope we never become a bunch of hypersensitive pc hypotwats walking on eggshells for fear we just may offend someone.

[Renee]

Sorry to be a little sensitive; sometimes I just get a little tired of it. I guess I sometimes expect too much of people. ac_dunno



Give me a break I've had a rough day. ac_toofunny I've been excommunicated FFS.  ac_toofunny



I'm sorry about the pet jokes and the driving jokes, they are wrong. My mouth runs faster than my brain sometimes.



But don't think I'm going to let you dog sit anytime soon.  ac_lmfao

I realize the trauma of being banished from the despicable kingdom will leave scars. ac_lmfao  However, humour is good for whatever ails ya. Don't stop the East Asian jokes on my account. If I go overboard with the fat jokes, don't be afraid to let me know you aren't in the mood at the time. I hope we never become a bunch of hypersensitive pc hypotwats walking on eggshells for fear we just may offend someone.

I know I feel the same.



BTW I wish I was in Mexico right now; on a beach with little Mexican men serving me frozen margaritas and nachos.  ac_dance

[Annie]

I wish I could join you in Mexico Renee, I'd be sucking back the margaritas big time hehe

[Anonymous]

I know I feel the same.



BTW I wish I was in Mexico right now; on a beach with little Mexican men serving me frozen margaritas and nachos.  ac_dance

Who wouldn't. We should go crash at ghost's place in Playa Del Carmen. I hear she hired Keeps as her cabana boy. Maybe she'll lend him to us for a while. ac_dance  :thankyou:

[Renee]

I wish I could join you in Mexico Renee, I'd be sucking back the margaritas big time hehe

 ac_drinks Me too, Annie, me too.