In a thrilling and sometimes terrifying encounter with nature's giants, adventurer Tom Waddington found himself accompanied by a massive pod of pilot whales while paddling solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Waddington, who embarked on a journey from Newfoundland to England, documented his extraordinary experience in a post on Instagram.

On July 7, after a morning drizzle, Waddington discovered that his boat was surrounded by the majestic long-finned pilot whales. Excitedly capturing the moment on video, he expressed both delight and fear for his safety. "A pod of whales are just coming around the boat, playing around the boat," Waddington exclaimed. "I love it but I'm scared they're gonna hit my rudder."

As the whales gracefully swam close to his vessel, Waddington marveled at their presence, hearing their distinctive blowing bubbles and describing the encounter as a "special treat." However, the pleasant encounter took a frightening turn when one of the whales collided with his boat, prompting him to momentarily drop his camera and cease filming.

When the camera resumed rolling, Waddington's voice carried a worried tone. "I'm two hours in now to roam with these thousands of whales," he shared. "One dinged the boat earlier, but I don't know what to do. I'm s-ting myself they're gonna hit the boat. It's an amazing sight but also so scary."

Fortunately, according to the crew monitoring Waddington's voyage from land, the whales eventually swam away, allowing him to continue his expedition. Undeterred by the encounter, Waddington remains focused on his mission to paddle across 2,000 nautical miles to raise funds for MindCharity, a British mental health nonprofit supporting individuals battling mental illness.

As he continues his arduous journey, Waddington's progress is being closely tracked by his dedicated crew. With still a long way to go, his determination and the awe-inspiring encounter with the pod of pilot whales will undoubtedly serve as a memorable highlight of his Atlantic solo expedition.