Drone footage captured professional surfer Matt Wilkinson’s narrow escape from a 15m great white shark off Ballina in North New South Wales
The world championship tour surfer was paddling his board near Sharpes Beach on Wednesday when a shark swam quickly behind him
« I heard a splash and a noise, I looked around and saw nothing, » Wilkinson said, according to a statement from Surf Life Saving NSW
Surf rescuers were flying a drone overhead and were able to broadcast a warning from the aircraft’s speakers
« The drone came down and told me there was a dangerous shark in the area, head back to the beach, » Wilkinson said
« 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 it changed my mind
« I have surfed with sharks all my life and I understand that they are out there and know enough about them to know that they are not too interested in humans. I am just happy today that the shark be reconsidered at the last second, « said Wilkinson
Wilkinson was also in competition when Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark in South Africa in 2015
« I feel grateful and quite strange at the same time, but happy that I decided not to go away When I saw the pictures I saw the similarities, for example I had a yellow leg rope and Mick’s board was yellow, that’s what I was thinking when I walked in, ”Wilkinson said
« I called my wife because I didn’t want her to see the pictures before seeing them. She doesn’t want me to be surfing for a few days now »
« He came out of nowhere, then went straight to Matt It moved pretty fast I was following him and briefed rescuers and used the drone speaker to get everyone out of the water, » a he declared
Monks told ABC News Breakfast that the sound of the drone may have frightened the great white
« I’m not sure why the shark decided to turn away at the last minute. It could have been something as simple as bumping into the rope of its leg, or maybe it was the drone We know that sea creatures soar when the drone arrives, ”he said.
Drones fly over a number of NSW beaches on school holiday days and are used to warn surfers and swimmers of various dangers, including marine animals
Surf Life Saving NSW General Manager Steven Pearce says drones are the future of aerial surveillance
« They have proven to be cheaper and more efficient than helicopters and are preferred by the community, » he said
Sharks, surf, Mick Fanning
News from the world – AU – Australian professional surfer Matt Wilkinson’s narrow escape from the filmed shark
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
