Ammon News - Two sailors were safely rescued in Spain after a pod of killer whales rammed their yacht in a coordinated attack.

The incident occurred on Monday, July 21, when orcas targeted the French yacht around 2 p.m. local time, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, The Independent and The Telegraph. While this was rare in the area, similar occurrences have been happening nearby in recent years.

Per the outlets, the sailors, one of whom was reportedly 60 years old, sent out a mayday call, while about two nautical miles from the Basque coastal town Deba, which is situated in northern Spain. They were safely transported to a port.

PEOPLE has contacted the Spanish coastguard for comment.

According to the reports, rescuers said it was "uncommon" to hear of orcas attacking vessels in the region. However, orcas are more active further south, especially in the Strait of Gibraltar, which has been dubbed "orca alley." People