Plucky penguin escapes killer whale by flinging itself onto dinghy full of cheering tourists in Antarctica
- The gentoo penguin was being chased in the Gerlache Strait, Antarctica
- Boats full of tourists watched the dramatic chase unfold around them
- The penguin leapt into the side of the boat before it was helped into the dinghy
A penguin escaped a pod of chasing killer whales by leaping into a dinghy full of tourists after flinging itself headfirst into the side of the boat.
The flightless bird repeatedly jumped out of the water in a dramatic chase that circled the tour boat before it leapt aboard to the delight of the stunned passengers.
Travel blogger Matt Karsten, 40, and his wife Anna, 32, were taking a tour through icebergs in the Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, when a large group of orcas swam up to their Zodiac boat.
A penguin escaped a pod of chasing killer whales by leaping into a dinghy full of tourists after flinging itself headfirst into the side of the boat
The creature repeatedly jumped out of the water in a dramatic chase that circled the tour boat before it leapt aboard
The predators spotted a gentoo penguin swimming nearby and gave chase, darting between the tourist boats.
Footage shows the penguin leaping out of the icy water with the killer whales in close pursuit.
The penguin tries to get into one of the boats for safety but lands just short and bounces off the side of the vessel and back into the sea.
Seconds later, the penguin successfully makes it over the rim of the boat and is helped aboard by the cheering tourists.
The predators spotted a gentoo penguin swimming nearby and gave chase, darting between the tourist boats watching on
Footage shows the penguin leaping out of the icy water with the killer whales in close pursuit
Travel blogger Matt Karsten and his wife Anna, 32, were taking a tour through icebergs in the Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, when they saw the incredible chase
Matt said: ‘It was crazy to see in person. It was like watching a National Geographic episode on location. I imagine the penguin was very relieved to get away.
‘We were heading out for a scenic Zodiac cruise between icebergs when a large pod of orcas showed up playing in the water besides us.
‘They swam right up to the camera and said hello. Suddenly the orcas started chasing a gentoo penguin trying to eat it.
‘Back and forth they went with the penguin swimming fast with the orcas on its trail. Eventually the poor penguin tried to jump into a nearby zodiac boat.
The penguin tries to get into one of the boats for safety but lands just short and bounces off the side of the vessel and back into the sea
Seconds later, the penguin successfully makes it over the rim of the boat in its bid for freedom
The cheering tourists helped the penguin clamber itself aboard to escape the hunting killer whales
‘The penguin failed at first, falling back into the water, but then managed on the second attempt.
‘The orcas did follow the zodiac boat for a while. They did give up in the end leaving the penguin safe with his new friends.
‘After cruising for a little bit, the penguin said goodbye to the boat and hopped back into the icy water.’
Matt – who calls himself the Expert Vagabond – has been travelling around the world visiting more than 50 countries since 2010 and is currently based in Yucatan, Mexico, after the birth of his second child.
After the penguin jumped into the dinghy, the captain quickly moved away in fear of the killer whales
The tourists were amazed as the penguin sat in the boat before later returning to the sea
Matt, pictured with his wife Anna, calls himself the Expert Vagabond – has been travelling around the world visiting more than 50 countries since 2010