A father who was struck by a whale’s tail while fishing is still in hospital three weeks later with brain damage.
Jordan Mainstone was fishing with his friend from a boat at Duranbah, near the New South Wales-Queensland border, when a whale appeared next to him at 9am on August 18.
The whale jumped out and hit Mr Mainstone in the face, knocking him unconscious.
The father-of-three’s friend and boat skipper Jamie French helped Mr Mainstone before other locals – some on jet skis – arrived to offer assistance.
After emergency services were alerted to the horrific incident, Mr Mainstone was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital with serious brain injuries.
Mr Mainstone’s wife, Rebecca, did not believe Mr French when he called her to tell her about the incident, 7News reported.
“I thought it was a joke until I heard the panic in his voice,” she said.
Her husband was placed in an induced coma for six days before undergoing intensive treatment for the brain injuries he sustained from the whale.
Jordan Mainstone (pictured left with his wife Rebecca and their three children) was knocked unconscious when a whale leaping out of the water hit him in the face with its tail while he was fishing in a boat with a friend
He has now been diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia, which involves confusion following a traumatic brain injury.
Mrs Mainstone tried to hold back tears and said her husband’s recovery could take months, or even years.
“I thought I would have my husband back in a week or two and the boys would have their father home,” she said.
Mrs Mainstone said her husband was confused and disoriented and ‘can’t remember’.
“Until he recovers from that, we won’t know how severe his brain injury is,” she said.
The fisherman’s wife says she is trying to find him a place in a rehabilitation center for people with brain injuries so she can give her husband “the best possible chance.”
Their local community on the Gold Coast supports the family and has a GoFundMe to ‘lighten the burden of everyday expenses’ and to help with ongoing medical costs.
“He still has a long road to recovery and it is uncertain when he will be able to return to work,” it reads.
The whale can be seen jumping next to the boat (pictured) Local residents rushed to Mr Mainstone’s aid after witnessing the incident, before he was taken to hospital with serious brain injuries
‘Rebecca was also unable to work during this time and depending on Jordan’s recovery requirements/time, she may not be able to return to work for some time.’
Mrs Mainstone expressed her gratitude for the ‘continued support, love and help’ and said most days contained ‘lots of ups and downs’.
