Amazingly, he survived with just a headache

Surfer smacked by whale

At Australia's popular Bondi Beach, southern right whales with calves require a 1,000 foot exclusion zone - and now one surfer knows why. He was one of a group of surfers sitting quietly on their boards as a right whale and her calf approached them. Then the whale turned and lashed out with her flukes, knocking the surfer flying. Watch the video here!

The surfer was unconscious in the water for about 10 seconds, but recovered quickly after being checked out at a local hospital. Lesson learned: don't get near a mama whale and her baby!

Image copyright CBS News