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Clash with whalers

Sydney: Two anti-whaling protesters were rescued from the freezing waters of the Antarctic after angry clashes at sea between environmentalists and the crew of a Japanese whaling ship. One of the men, part of a group of activists trying to stop Japan's annual whale hunt, described their ordeal as ``pretty hairy'' and said they had lassoed an iceberg for protection from icy winds and to stop themselves drifting away. John Gravois said he and Karl Neilsen huddled in their damaged inflatable craft for eight hours in freezing fog, snow and sleet after the confrontation on Friday before being hauled to safety aboard the flagship boat Farley Mowat, which belongs to the Sea Shepherd conservation group. The activist said he and his crewmate had been trying to foul the ship's propeller but had gone too close and collided with its hull. Their small craft began letting in water and they fell behind other boats in the fleet who were also trying to sabotage the ship. When they tried to use their radio to call for help, they discovered it did not work.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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