Ballina was caught on camera by Australian surfer Matt Wilkinson escaping from an incredible shark
Pro-surfer Matt Wilkinson has narrowly avoided a shark attack while surfing near Ballina, on NSW North Coast, in a terrifying encounter captured on camera.
A circling shark has been filmed as it zeroed-in on the feet of professional surfer Matt Wilkinson, with the predator diverting away at the last moment.
A NSW Surf Life Saving drone alerted Wilkinson to the shark circling at Sharpes Beach.
"I heard a little splash behind me, looked back and there was nothing there, and then the lifeguards drone came down and said that there was a dangerous shark in the area," he said.
The close encounter happened at Sharpes Beach at Ballina in today and was filmed by the Surf Life Saving NSW UAV.
Wilkinson was paddling behind the breakers when the dark shadow of the shark, which appears to be about 2m in length, starts darting towards him.
"The shark had kind of come at me from in front and then went around the back and had a little go at my legs, then last minute decided that my feet stink or something and turned away."It's not yet known what kind of shark it was.
"I was surfing out the back at Sharpes Beach and just cruising on my own and I heard a splash and a noise and looked around and couldn't see anything," Wilkinson said.
"Then the drone came down and told me that there was a dangerous shark in the area, return to the beach.
It could have been either a little white or a bull shark or a bronze, Wilkinson said.It was probably about 8 foot long, it looked like it was a few feet longer than me, he said.
The 32-year-old said while he has surfed near sharks in the past, this was incomparable.
"I'm feeling pretty lucky," he said.
"We get to see sharks a little bit out in the surf but that was definitely my closest encounter and I hope it doesn't get any closer than that."
"I got to the shore feeling a bit weird and the lifeguards showed me the footage and I realised how close it came without knowing it was there. It looks like it's going for my leg and it's changed its mind.
"I feel grateful and pretty weird at the same time but happy it decided not to go me. When I saw the footage I saw the similarities, like I had a yellow leg rope on and Mick's board was yellow is what I was thinking about when I came in.
"I called my wife because I didn't want her to see the footage before I saw it. She doesn't want me surfing for a couple of days now."
The beach was evacuated and will be closed until tomorrow.
It's a survival story he now shares with fellow Australian three-time world champion surfer, Mick Fanning, who was attacked by a shark at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa in 2015.
"His one was a little bit more wild than mine, but I guess I got to feel that weird, heart-sinking but lucky feeling when I saw that footage," Wilkinson said.
"When I saw the footage I saw the similarities, like I had a yellow leg rope on and Mick's board was yellow is what I was thinking about when I came in.
In the last few days, many sharks have been seen up and down the north coast of NSW, including a dead whale attacking whites.Wilkinson was surfing at the J-Bay competition in South Africa in 2015, when friend and three-time world champion Mick Fanning hit his board by a brilliant white shark.
Wilkinson surfed the heat prior to Fanning.
The UAVs are being flown by Surf Life Saving NSW every day during the NSW holidays at beaches in Ballina, and another 34 beaches in the state.
The drone spotted a large shark near competitors at the Tweed Coast Pro World Surf League event in Cabarita a few weeks ago."It's good to know that drones go up and down the beach and see what we can't do, and it makes you feel more comfortable," Wilkinson said.
"It makes other people aware that there are sharks out there but usually with no intention. It's nice to know if there's a big one around you can just come in and let them go by.
I have been surfing with sharks all my life and I understand that they are there and it is enough to know about them that they are not very interested in humans. I am glad that today sharks have made the last second. Reconsidered. Beau Monk was operating the drone at the time and was on his seventh flight of the day to see the shark.
"But I'm still here in one piece and I'll live to surf another day."
The drone's operator, Beau Monks from the Australian UAV Service, spotted the shark near Wilkinson and said it all happened very quickly.
"It sort of came out of nowhere, then went right up to Matt. It moved pretty fast," he said.
I was tracking it and notified the lifeguards and used the speaker on the drone to get everyone out of the water. Within 10 seconds it was at the surfer and five seconds later it was gone," Mr Monks said."I'd spotted a large bat ball and some whales and dolphins earlier in the day and had alerted the lifeguards to that."
NSW Surf Life Saving is flying drones every day during the school holidays at Ballina.
The beach was evacuated and closed until tomorrow as a result of the sighting.
Wilkinson began competing in the World Surf League in 2006 and finished the season ranked No.5 in 2016 and 2017.
