13.10.2025 16:39
A family aboard the French-flagged yacht Ti'fare off the coast of Portugal was attacked by orcas. The boat began to take on water, and the family sent an SOS signal and moved to the lifeboat. The Portuguese Air Force rescued the family from a fishing boat and transported them to the hospital. Orca attacks along the Portuguese coast have increased recently.
A family of five with three children was saved from drowning at sea after an orca attack off the coast of Portugal. When the boat began to take on water during the incident, the Portuguese Air Force intervened to rescue the family.
A military helicopter safely picked up the family, who had been rescued by a nearby fishing boat. No one in the family was injured as they were taken to the hospital by helicopter. The incident occurred about 55 nautical miles southeast of Peniche, approximately 75 minutes north of Lisbon, on Friday night.
On the French-flagged yacht named Ti'fare, which is 36 meters long, were three children aged 8, 10, and 12, along with their mother and father. When the group of orcas attacked the boat, causing damage, the family sent an SOS signal and boarded a lifeboat. Subsequently, a nearby fishing boat named Silmar rushed to their aid.
The Portuguese Air Force shared footage of the family being transferred from the fishing boat to the helicopter. A spokesperson said, "On the night of October 10, our EH-101 Merlin helicopter took off to rescue the five people on the boat located 50 km off Peniche. The boat was taking on water; the family was rescued by boarding a lifeboat." A naval frigate and a rescue boat from the Peniche Port Authority also participated in the operation.
It was learned that the family had set off from the town of Lorient in France and had made stops in La Coruna and Porto along the way. The family is currently receiving support from French consulate officials.
In recent weeks, orca attacks off the coast of Portugal have increased. Last month, in a similar incident, a yacht was attacked south of Lisbon, the crew was rescued, but the boat sank. Of the approximately 500 orca attacks recorded between 2020 and 2023, 20% of the boats were damaged.
The Portuguese Maritime Authority sent messages to warn sailors about orcas 61 times this year; last year, this number was 45.