PHOTOS: Paddle boarders get a close encounter with orca siblings off West Seattle

SEATTLE (KOMO) — A couple of paddle boarders had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a pair of Transient orcas off of West Seattle this summer.

Kersti Muul, co-founder of Salish Wildlife Watch, says the two orcas T137A (male) and T137B (female) are siblings who were traveling 50 yards offshore of Lowman Beach in West Seattle in late August.

Muul says T137A, the male seen in the photo, suffered an injury to his tail last fall and was unable to hunt for himself at the time. When he was seen swimming near the paddleboarders, Muul says he appeared to look fully recovered.

The two paddle boarders are teachers who were picking up supplies from Salish Wildlife Watch when they decided to make the great decision go paddle boarding.