Watch: Snorkeller tossed in air by humpback whale in Australia

The snorkeller was unharmed in “the most insane thing I’ve ever experienced in my life”. Screenshot / @maxandjacquelinep

A snorkeller has been filmed being tossed in the air by a humpback whale in waters off the Gold Coast.

Max Persyn and Jacqueline Payne, who are Queensland-based YouTubers, were on a swim with the mammals near the town of Southport when they captured the moment one of their tour guides shot out of the water on a humpback’s tail before plunging back in.

“All of a sudden someone was in the air on top of a freaking whale,” Jacqueline Payne said moments after the encounter, adding it was “the most insane thing I’ve ever experienced in my life”.

The moment lasted barely a second, but the size of the whale’s huge tail was clearly visible. The animals can grow up to 18 metres and are known to approach boats and humans out of curiosity.

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The man escaped unharmed and was seen smiling and high-fiving the other snorkellers afterwards.

“This was the first time this had happened to him but he was very ecstatic about it,” Max Persyn said.