A couple have spoken of their relief to be rescued after a sperm whale collided with their yacht.

Jeremy and Jemma Cooper told the BBC that they were 500 nautical miles off the coast of New Zealand when the boat, the Tai Tam, lurched port side and they knew they'd "been hit by something" – only to see a pod of six sperm whales swimming behind the boat.

As their boat took on water and eventually sank, the Coopers and two other sailors aboard the vessel evacuated to a life raft. Seventeen hours later they were rescued by a container ship.

The couple told the BBC that, despite their ordeal, they would be out on the water again soon.

Video produced by Lana Lam, edited by Alex Foster.