Matt Wilkinson, who spent several fantastic years on the world tour, recently had a serious run in with a predator on the northern coast of New South Wales. A drone from Australia UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), working with NSW Surf Life Saving, was flying in the area and caught the footage of an estimated eight-foot shark come from the depths to stick its nose up to Wilko as he paddled. The operator then warned lifeguards while using a loudspeaker on the drone to warn Wilko and other surfers to get out of the water, according to reports. Wilko was surfing near the town of Ballina at Sharpes Beach.
Wilkinson was visibly shaken after looking at the drone footage: “I’m feeling pretty lucky,” he told local media. “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.”
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