Whale defender's injuries more serious than first thought

April 21, 2000

UPDATE: URGENT NEWS ADVISORY

Thursday / April 20, 2000 (3:41 p.m.)

WHALE DEFENDER SUFFERS

BROKEN SHOULDER, CRACKED

RIBS; LUNG COLLAPSE POSSIBLE

NEAH BAY - Ocean Defense International whale defender Erin Abbott - who

was run over by a U.S. Coast Guard boat Thursday during a protest against

the killing of whales - is in guarded condition in the Pt. Angeles Hospital

this afternoon.

In a phone conversation from her hospital bed, Ms. Abbott said she was in

" lots of pain " and that her doctors said they are keeping her at least

overnight because of a fear of a " collapsed lung. " She said she has a

broken shoulder, and cracked ribs.

If she is released Friday, she may be arraigned. She was arrested after

her injury by the USCG for allegedly violating a 500-yard protection zone

around the Makah whale hunters. A whale harpooned at the time of her

incident somehow threw the harpoon out and escaped the hunters.

Television video clearly shows the USCG vessel heading straight for Ms.

Abbott, not trying to avoid her and then running over the top of her. She

said she was trying to avoid the USCG when she was hit. Ms. Abbott also

reported that the USCG " refused " to help her, and told her that they ran

her down because " you splashed the Makah. "

Erin O'Connell, another ODI member, was also arrested in a separate

incident.

It's the second injury this week during the Makah whale hunt. Monday, a

World Whale Police vessel was broadsided by a 36-ton Coast Guard patrol

boat, and one crew member was hospitalized. Another WWP member was

arrested.

" We are non-violent, as are the whales. It's the Makah whale killers, and

the U.S. Coast Guard who are violent and who pose a threat to everyone's

safety, " said Jonathan Paul, captain of the Ocean Defense International

whale protection vessels.

Paul said his organization will not back down from extralegal threats

either by the Makah hunters, or the Coast Guard and plans to be on the Neah

Bay waters for the next 6-8 weeks.

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