This is the incredible moment a stunned youngster was photobombed by a huge whale breaching right in front of him during a father and son fishing trip.

The little boy was filmed grinning for the camera during an expedition with Nootka Wilderness Lodge on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada.

Speeding through the water, the youngster is clearly enjoying the thrill of the ride when a huge whale breaches the water just yards from the boat.

The little boy was filmed grinning for the camera during an expedition with Nootka Wilderness Lodge on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, when the whale breached, right

The once-in-a-lifetime moment was caught on camera by Sydney Crawford from Nootka Wilderness Lodge.

She said: 'I have never seen anything like this before. It was a really special moment. It was just spectacular.'

It is unclear exactly why whales breach, but one explanation could be that it allows them to breathe in air that is not close to the surface and full of spray.

Alternatively, the sound made by breaching could be used to communicate. This could be why whales slap the water with their fins when they land.

The once-in-a-lifetime moment was caught on camera by Sydney Crawford from Nootka Wilderness Lodge

She said: 'I have never seen anything like this before. It was a really special moment. It was just spectacular'