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.

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.