A huge whale shark accidentally struck a tourist's crotch with its tail while she was snorkeling.

The adventurous holidaymaker, Republica Gamale, went swimming to observe whale sharks with her friend off the coast of Cebu City, the Philippines, on October 16.

Footage shows Republica spotting a whale shark passing by. She struggled to paddle back and opted to hold onto a floating bamboo pole to avoid colliding with the gentle giant.

As the whale shark nearly passed by, Republica let go of the floating object and accidentally bumped into the fish's tail, with its giant flipper whacking her in the groin.

Republica said: 'The whale shark was gentle and friendly so I wasn't afraid. But it did catch me in a sensitive spot.'

Whale sharks are known for their gentle nature. Despite their enormous size, they are filter feeders, mainly consuming plankton and small fish. This makes them harmless to humans.