World Championship Tour surfer Matt Wilkinson had a close encounter with a shark while surfing at Sharpes Beach in Ballina today
Wilkinson was surfing when a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) flew over him, warning him over loudspeaker 1 A 5m white shark had resurfaced just behind him
The astonishing vision captured by the drone, operated by Surf Life Saving NSW on behalf of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), stunned the operator by how quickly the shark appeared on his screen during a flight of routine monitoring
The former professional surfer said he knew the drone was over his head and heard the warning, but was still shocked to meet the shark at such a distance
Surf life Saving Australia said today’s event was another lucky escape for Wilkinson, who took part in the heat just before Mick Fanning knew about his encounter with a great white shark at J-Bay in South Africa. South in 2015
“I was surfing in the back at Sharpes Beach and I was sailing on my own and I heard a noise and a noise, I looked around and saw nothing,” said Wilkinson “Then the drone is went down and told me there was a dangerous shark in the area, go back to the beach
« I got to the shore feeling a little weird and the lifeguards showed me the pictures and I realized how close it was without knowing it was there Looks like it’s okay for my leg and that changed his mind
« I feel grateful and quite weird at the same time but happy that he decided not to go when I saw the pictures I saw the similarities, like I have a yellow leg cord and that Mick’s tray was yellow, that’s what I was thinking when I walked in I called my wife because I didn’t want her to see the pictures before seeing them She doesn’t want me to surf for a few days now »
Drones were found to be vital just a few weeks ago when a large shark was spotted near competitors at the Tweed Coast Pro World Surf League event in Cabarita The start of the event has been postponed until the area is clear and safe for the start of the competition
Drones are flown by Surf Life Saving NSW daily during school holidays at Ballina Beaches, some of the 34 beaches funded for drone flights by the NSW government’s $ 8 million 2020/21 NSW Shark program and many other coastal LGAs to help rescuers and lifeguards protect swimmers and surfers from a range of dangers, including sea creatures
« It’s nice to know the drones are going up and down the beach and can see what we can’t and it makes you more comfortable It makes others aware that there are sharks but generally without intention C ‘good to know if there’s a big one around, you can just go in and let them pass, « Wilkinson said.
« I’ve been surfing with sharks my whole life and I understand they’re out there and know enough about them to know they don’t care too much for humans I’m just happy today that the shark is being reconsidered at the last second, « said Wilkinson
Drone operator Beau Monks of the Australian Drone Service said he had just launched his seventh flight for the day he spotted the shark near the surfer
« He came out of nowhere, then went straight to Matt It moved pretty fast I was following him and had informed the rescuers and used the drone speaker to get everyone out of the water In 10 seconds he was at the surfer and five seconds later he was gone, ”said Beau Monks
« I had spotted a big baitball and whales and dolphins earlier in the day and alerted the rescuers about it »
Drones are the future of aerial surveillance – they have been shown to be cheaper and more efficient than helicopters and are preferred by the community, ”said Steve Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW
Note: The Australian UAV Service is a business unit of Surf Life Saving NSW and provides professional UAV services to clients including the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the World Surf League
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Surf, Sharks, Ballina
News from around the world – AU – WATCH: A pro surfer meets a shark up close in Ballina
