A whale watcher in New Zealand was pleasantly surprised to see two orcas swimming near the shore from his balcony. But it seems there was an even better display as an excited man can be seen falling over as he attempts to record the killer whales.
The tumble was more enjoyable than the whale visit for TikTok user @dirtyseaman and millions more.
The viral clip has racked up more than 425,000 likes and 6.6 million views since it was posted on November 19.
The video is captioned: "Watching whales from my house then this fella stole the show."
Killer whales actually belong to the dolphin family Delphinidae, according to Discover Wildlife.
In the video, the orcas can be seen just feet away from the sand. In the comments, the New Zealand-based "fishing crew" account holder states they were spotted in Taipa, Northland.
It seems it isn't unusual for orcas to swim near the shore, as the New Zealand Department of Conservation states "they dig in the muddy sea bottom for stingrays and are often seen herding them into [the] shallow water around Oriental Parade, Frank Kitts Park and The Lagoon" in Wellington, New Zealand.
The government agency refers to New Zealand as "home to an estimated 150–200" orcas, "which travel long distances throughout the country's coastal waters."
@dirtyseamen0 Watching whales from my house then this fella stole the show 😂 #funny #fallover #fyp
♬ Laughing - Gianluca Marino
It seems the man's fall in the video has delighted the internet more than the orcas, as over 1,000 people have taken the time to comment on the video.
One comment, that received 13,500 likes, said: "He didn't give up recording either 😂 hope his POV shows up on TK."
Another comment said: "Excuse me, sir! I'm calling to talk to you about your ocean's extended warranty!"
"Dude was tryna have his free Willy moment," joked another.
This isn't the first time Newsweek has shared a story about an apex predator getting all close and personal. Recently, we shared the moment a shark jumped into a fishing boat and the moment an orca swam so close to a boat a passenger was able to touch its fin.
Newsweek reached out to @dirtyseamen0 for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on Newsweek's "What Should I Do? section.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Lucy Notarantonio is Newsweek's Senior Lifestyle and Trends Reporter, based in Birmingham, UK. Her focus is trending stories and human ... Read more
