What began as a rare wildlife spectacle off the coast of Canada quickly turned into horror after a jet ski rider appeared to collide with a protected grey whale in full view of stunned onlookers.

The whale had become a local attraction in recent days, drawing crowds to Vancouver’s English Bay and Stanley Park shoreline as it fed unusually close to shore. But the excitement turned to shock on Monday when witnesses watched a man riding a Sea-Doo speed across the water moments before the whale surfaced.

Footage captured by bystanders shows the grey whale emerging near Siwash Rock to spout before the jet ski appears to strike or graze the animal’s back. The impact launched both the rider and the watercraft into the air before the Sea-Doo crashed back into the ocean, throwing the man into the water.

As horrified whale watchers looked on, the whale surfaced again just metres from the stranded rider.

Emergency crews later transported the man to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The incident has now triggered investigations by both the Vancouver Police Department and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), with growing questions over whether marine wildlife protection laws were breached.

Under Canadian marine mammal regulations, vessels and personal watercraft must remain at least 100 metres away from grey whales and 200 metres away from mothers travelling with calves.

The collision also sparked immediate fears for the whale’s welfare, particularly after the animal had spent days feeding near the heavily populated coastline and attracting large crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the rare visitor.

DFO marine mammal co-ordinator Paul Cottrell and a team of experts were sent to assess the whale following the incident.

“(We) could not see any injuries, and the animal appeared to be acting normal and feeding,” Mr Cottrell said.

Officials later tracked the whale travelling northwest out of English Bay before eventually losing sight of it as it continued deeper dives further offshore.

“The animal may have moved on,” Mr Cottrell said.

“We are still out on the water today.”

Authorities are still investigating whether charges could be laid against the rider, with Vancouver police confirming they are working alongside federal fisheries officials.

For many watching from the shoreline, the collision transformed what had been a remarkable wildlife encounter into a disturbing reminder of the dangers marine animals face in increasingly crowded waterways.

The grey whale had become something of a celebrity along Vancouver’s waterfront over the past week. By Tuesday, it had vanished from sight.