Australian Kayaker Close Encounter With Massive Shark

A kayaker in Western Australia had a close encounter with what was believed to be a great white shark. The shark, judged to be between four and five meters long, pushed the back of the kayak then came up from the side and proceeded to push in sideways.
This GoPro footage video shows the moment when Ian Watkins noticed the shark while kayaking in King George Sound near Albany.
A fisheries vessel rescued the kayaker and took him back to nearby Emu Point.
Courtesy Ian Watkins via Storyful
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[@yoshidinono8095]

Guy gets the smallest boat he can find...and then goes into the ocean, only to call for "HELP!"

[@lisahaygood6005]

Ikr

[@GettingSchwiftyy]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@JosipFilipovic85]

Idiot

[@KubotaBob]

Yeah and it's in Australia

[@deye2233]

No sympathy you go out in a kayak get what you are given And she did not attack the yak at all she just went past for a look she was just fast food shopping and you were too slow so you're lucky

[@mullimulli6259]

I was at the beach today when I saw a man in the sea yelling "Help, Shark! Help!" I just laughed. I knew that shark wasn't going to help him.

[@troyjackson836]

Hah!

[@garretttooth437]

Great reason not to kayak in the ocean.

[@Pavia1525]

Ha!

[@125raydah3]

Get out!

[@paradox7743]

Thats class

[@thomascollard765]

I bet that kayakers blood pressure went sky high 😂

[@nocaption5562]

The only thing more scary than seeing a big spider vanish is seeing a big shark vanish while floating on a nutshell off the coast of australia

[@craig3916]

funniest thing I ever read. haha 😂 😂

[@jdrose1000]

Omg I was just about to say that! 😂

[@pietropes1322]

Seeing my bank balance vanish is up there tbh

[@jdrose1000]

@ He recently said it again and doubled down on it!

[@503TD]

I would have had that kayak paddle looking like a 1000hp propeller

[@d.b.4201]

OMG YES!!! I kept screaming, “Paddle Man Paddle!!!”

[@ezio5713]

🤣🤣🤣

[@pennymercer4158]

shark will bite the paddle

[@pennymercer4158]

Shark thinks the kayak is prey, and the paddles the flippers...if the guy had paddled for land shark would bite the paddles...maybe bite and shake and if the kayak is capsized now you are upside down under water with your legs stuck in the kayak..if you can roll the kayak back upright while still inside it good for you, if not now you have to exit underwater, swim to the surface, flip the kayak over, get your arms over the deck in the right spot, kick yourself up onto it keeping your center of gravity low, swing yourself so you're straddling it, inch foward till your butt is over the cockpit, sit down, then stuff your legs back in..if you do this in panic frantic mode you'll just roll/flip/capsize and back into the drink you'll go...best to stop and pray and try to jab the shark in the snout/gills/head as hard as possible if need be...at one point dude was dipping the paddles in lightly to see if the shark would show itself, he had the paddle up like a spear ready to jab

[@ashleymoon2969]

I'm 2 years late but that's really funny 😂

[@leroyreynolds7366]

If you cant handle a shark coming to inspect you on a small kayak, then you should not be out there that deep in the first place. You are in the deep water there and that's where the big Noah's hang around. You should just continue and try stay calm, if he wants to eat you...you will have to accept that fate and reflect back on your life choices.

[@MrPiccolop]

Yeah. That's what I thought when I rewatched that unfortunate British fella being chomped alive off the coast in Sydney. Was kind of In awe and its awesome rawness as horrific as it was. Couldn't help thinking - bro you are swimming alone in dark chop, with people fishing off the rocks, wearing a dark skin wetsuit... What could possibly go wrong? It annoyed me when people were saying it was very unlucky or he died doing what he loved!! 😆🤦 His last conscious moments were of raw terror.

[@BeyondTheMind007]

lol

[@firstnamelastname8790]

ur a loser HAHAHHA

[@waynepalmer6743]

Yep. That was a big one. If he wanted you he would have got you Whats to stop him.

[@dr3dnaut38]

Yeah after watching videos of how far out of the water these things can go all for a bite to eat I have no sympathy for idiots on kayaks in the ocean. Especially when that thing decides to get a full on charge from underneath the kayak to take it down. Stupid people.

[@ridinghightidesindia6847]

Beauty of Kayak Fishing is either you catch fish or fish will catch you 🤣

[@996vtwin2]

time to find another sport

[@modesto885]

The shark is probably calling his buddies like"Got a scared one here, thinking about tipping his kayak and eating him, want to join me?

[@mrok3405]

"Emergency, emergency, emergency. I thought I'd give ocean kayaking a go but a Great White has made me realise that this kayaking thing is not really for me. You better hurry, it's an emergency cause he's hanging around me". I'm so glad I never pursued ocean kayaking! I'd poop my pants or die from a heart attack

[@Carlos-ui5dx]

Lmao for real, but remember "you're more likely to die from car accident than shark attack" LOL

[@mrwilson7769]

It's all fun and games till you've got 16 ft great white sharks interested in your unstable kayak , enter they're environment deal with it when they're trying to take a bite out of you

[@FarmerFpv]

@@Carlos-ui5dx That is a BS statistic. If you spend your life on the ocean it ups the statistics by a large margin. Yes for the average city person but not for those that live on the coast. Animal activists make up all kinds of statistics with no care about human life.

[@AntonioHernandez-bh8ve]

Lol sharks are starting a new trend "kayak tipping"

[@Sharkacy]

"I got a shark attacking my kayak" boy he hasn't touched you

[@stevenspeakman5363]

The guy is clearly not being attacked. That shark was merely curious. Out in a kayak off the Aussy coast...what did he expect?

[@MassimilianoFrascone]

Si aspettava un mazzo di fiori...forse?😂😂😂

[@bonochibear7895]

That was boring. I saw one fin at the beginning of this video and the remaining 3 minutes was this man crying for help 🙄. Don’t waste your time watching this unless you want to be annoyed.

[@TerryJohnson-yt6fw]

So true it was ridiculous 🙄

[@sailedship6530]

Being on a kayak in the ocean is like floating on some type of unfamiliar shark food. They at least owe the kayaker a close inspection before they can take him/her on the offer 😂

[@adventuresinbasicreality219]

The little voice in all of our heads: Don’t kayak in the ocean.

[@ItsJustJodieLove-ej4il]

He forgot he was in Australia and afraid of sharks until he saw one😂😂😂😂

[@杰-说话都要講道理]

Kayaker : Emergency emergency I got a white pointer attacking the kayak Lifeguard: you gonna need a bigga boat

[@leerios2004]

Emergency there's a shark in the ocean

[@eggspanda2475]

[@BlackKettleRanch]

"Emergency, emergency, emergency...I've chosen to kayak in shark infested waters and I just saw one. Come save me. I have no firearm, either. Help, save me. And chop, chop. Hurry it up. Get these sharks out of my damn ocean that I'm trying to kayak in."

[@ThePaulaon1]

Lol

[@travixo]

😂😂

[@JarodRebuck]

😂😂😂 exactly

[@BlackKettleRanch]

@BennO4 Oh, I'm sorry to burst your bubble so soon, Little buddy. But I'm a horse trainer and riding instructor of over 45 years. I have my own farm that I refurbished, and I work it in all weather, 365 days a year. So, you get your overweight ass outside and try to get even close to working 1000 lb. flight animals at the level that I do. You won't hit it in a million years. And I can shoot, too.

[@amylloyd6750]

I thought the same thing! Why is man surprised that there are sharks?

[@mintythemoose]

Imagine jumping out of the water and shouting 'surprise' with a fin stuck on your head. Oh, I'm a bundle of fun, I am.

[@kenwebster5053]

This white pointer is not attacking, only checking you out and perhaps tentatively testing what you are & your defense capability. Nerve wracking all the same. If is was an attack, it would charge you from depth directly below at considerable speed. You would not even know of it's presence until it lifted your whole kayak 10 feet or more out of the water and snapped it in two in an instant. That's how they typically take seals on the surface but a kayak is unfamiliar so it is being cautious (for a great white). Yeah, the thought of encountering them freaks me out too.

[@FarmerFpv]

Yes, but it can also become more confident and set u for an attack. They don't always come down from the depth. They have many different tactics. They are unpredictable. Anyone saying otherwise has no clue what they are talking about. If they are hungry or a pregnant female needing food will attack just about anything for a meal. Biologists and Shark Activists will lie to protect them with no regard for human life. Sharks are predators we are made up of meat. It's that simple. After 100s of years, they know exactly what we are and that we are weak in the water, Sharks will kill and eat us. Most of the time it has nothing to do with mistaken identity like they want you to believe. Which is why I stopped supporting them and stopped research diving.

[@geoffp1292]

A classic case of "It won't happened to me".., but it does. 🦈😂

[@rambomcswaggins]

“The sharks attacking the kayak” lol he’s just checking you out, shoulda stayed calm and just kept paddling

[@HeatherBDentureDiVa]

Dude your right by the beach. Move your ass man lol

[@jackucthatjack5896]

I was out in the Gulf of Mexico about a mile out and my kayak got bumped hard by a shark, a year later I was wade fishing at the beach and I got bumped in the back of the leg by a shark and fell down. I'm on or in the water a lot and those 2 experiences are always in the back of my mind every time I'm out, last time I went out I saw a massive shadow out of the corner of my eye a few feet from my kayak, it ended up just being a massive sea turtle but not gonna lie I felt my heart stop lol

[@alfredfishFeet6132]

Went snorkeling off the path in hawaii and caught a giant brown object floating in the corner of my eye towards me I froze only to see it was a giant turtle (my dad had gotten outta the water 10 minutes prior because he cut his foot on a rock)

[@nathansmart1532]

Your Entilted to that's Heart in your mouth Stuff Mate.

[@TheShmikes]

MAYDAY MAYDAY !! IM SURROUNDED BY FISH !!!

[@ConmouZ]

Go swimming with that thing I want to see something, I’m curious

[@Marco-Alexi]

Guy sees a big fish in the ocean and panics. Like calling 911 for a flat tire....

[@taylora8325]

Imagine the terror. Your in a 40 pound kayak and great white cruises up and looks you in the eye

[@makavelithadonstillbreathi4838]

This is literally my worst nightmare the position he is in, growing up watching jaws 1 and 2 no thanks

[@hayleyprice9530]

HE NEED,S A BIGGER BOAT

[@dawnroswall2327]

And this is when I would have died from a heart attack waiting for that thing to launch me in the air from an attack from below

[@Diggletsdad]

Craigslist: Like new white kayak for sale, does have a brown stain on seat.

[@NoNopeAndNo]

I'm amazed that people on the OCEAN are amazed when a fish shows up 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@skornd713]

Only way I'm ever gonna be caught on water in one of those is a few feet off shore parallel to the beach. No way am i going out THERE

[@AdamBorseti]

Kayaks are like cardboard mailing tubes that wrap around your ass. I'm not getting in one of those fuckin' things, nooooo sir!

[@thefamilysilver9762]

That is one unsuitable vessel for shark-infested waters, don't you think?

[@naturallawprinciples]

911/Coastguard : "Sir, try calm down & listen to me carefully, can you do that?" Kayaker : "Yes, yes, i'm listening" 911/Coastguard : "Sir, what you need to do is stop going out on the ocean in a skinny bit of plastic no wider than ya butt in which you're mere inches from the surface, have a nice day sir"

[@TheCatMamaChannel]

Too freakin' funny!!!! 😂

[@hayleyprice9530]

LOVE THIS IT MADE ME LAUGH

[@mybluebelly]

Hmm.....the manual for this kayak didn`t mention anything about intrusive sharks....hmm.

[@philj9594]

Perfectly normal to be scared and even panic in this situation. Even still, that was an extreme overreaction.

[@geekydavid4864]

Love reading these comments! You guys can act all big and mighty, sat behind typing away at your keyboard, but in reality such things as seeing a shark just at the side of you will make you scared and make you shit your pants! also, he is being safe by radioing in asking for help. So don't write stupid comments like "what was that bullshit" that bullshit was a life or death situation for this man, the shark could of been swimming behind or underneath the kayak,waiting for him to fall out for all we know. I am not ranting, I am just writing my own thoughts (which I guess is good and bad at the same time?), like what the rest of the people on the comments have done.

[@moto__shark]

MiniBachgen Being safe? If that shark wanted to get him, his help would never arrive on time.

[@tanehickey9887]

Ken Coker ahh chances of kayaking and seeing a great white are low no one expects to see a great white around their kayack....your an idiot and btw that is a long stable kayack perfect for coastal areas

[@jamesbatten6609]

MiniBachgen Absolutely that’s a little boat with a always hungry big smart bitey shark ,be a good logo for a T-shirt 😂🇬🇧🏍🌈❤️

[@dcs4947]

Been there, done that. Both times i didn't shit my pants and didn't scream for help. Just kept paddling and they went away. Sorry to tell you, this guy's a pussy. I've seen them scream for help while others kept paddling. Meh, the close encounter I had that scared me the most was with a Sei Whale and her calf when they dived and passed right below my kayak. Now that was fucking scary.

[@timm5970]

You dont go out that far in kayak and not think theres a possibility of a white shark rolling up on u. This guy is a straight pussy. Radioing it in mutliple times and saying the shark is attacking him. What a we knee. Sure its scary seeing a white in the wild but this guy is a Chihuahua

[@overclockedamd123]

I have a magical idea. KEEP PADDLING.

[@CoastMtns]

Yes, great idea. A good defense is to look like a seal with two fish splashing next to you

[@overclockedamd123]

Seals dont swim around with two fish splashing about on the surface of the water in the middle of the ocean like that. They hunt deeper in the water. I didnt even need to google that. Try again.

[@CoastMtns]

The point being that sharks may see a surf board as a seal. Sharks also see small splashes as fish and tend to investigate. 30 years of diving in tbe atlantic, pacific, Caribbean, and the red sea has taught me this. Googke may have been useful for you.

[@overclockedamd123]

No crap great whites surge from below when they attack which is why the seal idea would work for them. This was not a great white. So the argument is invalid.

[@overclockedamd123]

Cool you are a youtube comment hero. Collect your trophy at the door. Bye.

[@TheRosa63]

I am guessing if he tried to paddle away the shark would become more aggressive thinking his prey is running away? not sure.

[@supamario1030]

Yes

[@dcs4947]

@@supamario1030 no, he wouldn't. If the shark thought it was a prey, he wouldn't wait around like an idiot. The shark is not a dog that has an instinct to chase the prey.

[@kap1526]

@@dcs4947 wow thank mr know it all.. there are videos clearly showing if you paddle away or try to hit the shark some will be angry with that and will chase you down. Cant write an opinion and state "that they all do some same behavior."

[@dcs4947]

@@kap1526 well, mr.knowitall here has been in the same situation and paddled with sharks lurking out several times. The smart thing to do is to keep paddling like he's not there.

[@missouriplantmom1769]

@@dcs4947 if he flees he is prey

[@nfbg9626]

Inspector Sharknado reporting for duty just wanted to come up and let you know about the extended warranty on your kayak and your life. Thank me later

[@Antipodean33]

wtf is he splashing for, it makes you look alive and injured

[@sherman4970]

Why take that little boat out there if you even THINK there is a chance of an encounter??

[@Dreama40]

boat? lol, U meant surfboard right?

[@alexroxhissox]

Surfboard? Lol you meant kayak right?

[@spencermartin4846]

The coward dies a thousand times before his death but the brave man dies but once.

[@timg6176]

@@spencermartin4846 wtf are you on about... Lol

[@nathansmart1532]

You've done Everything wrong besides jump in.

[@andyzx9682]

emergency emergency !!! i just shit myself.....

[@oldboyswok]

This dude looks like he's trying to attract the shark the way he keeps " paddling" like that

[@pizzabagerenmujaffa8123]

Shark: hmmm the bait is calling for help ....better wait ....more food comming

[@Resistculturaldecline]

Them: " Wanna go kayaking?" Me: "Maybe. Where you going yak'ing" Them: " Australia " Me: "Nah, yall head on without me "

[@Konka2020]

Little known fact, sharks actually only attack when you’re wet 🤷🏼‍♂️😂🤣

[@driftless1870]

For sale: 3 meter fiberglass kayak and carbon fiber paddle. Low hours. Some minor handling marks and stains. Low price. Must go.

[@korzer]

''I've got a White pointer attacking the kayak'' ??????????????????????? Attacking ? with waves ?

[@Boobook663]

Waste of 3 minutes, what a Wanker.

[@awilderireland]

The Guy on the other end of the radio... Well... What do you want me to do about it?😂😂

[@daft9097]

Kayak in Australia 😂😂😂😂 would NEVER 🤣🤣🤣

[@chrisgriffin7357]

Imagine kayaking in Great White waters. Is kayaking really that exciting? Well, I guess when fending off great whites it is

[@E_GIBSON]

I do not blame Sharky for keeping an eye on him. A Renegade Aussie is a most certain threat, especially when rattled.

[@TheFlyingBlume]

Been in the water with sharks before, but 1:50 was absolutely terrifying. If that kayak had rolled....

[@tmazer99505]

what shark? you can't see anything expect the small fin at the beginning

[@pennymercer4158]

That's why dude stop paddling.. Shark will bite the paddle, possibility of capsize...

[@carolashton7548]

Kayaking so low to the water in the deep ocean NO FLIPPING WAY

[@lhm1586]

Was it a great white? I didnt see anything but the fin at the beginning

[@SwingOver-ox3ht]

@@tmazer99505you see it swimming below the kayak at 1:50

[@notesofenlightenment]

How is that shark attacking you?

[@la2alaska336]

He said it was attacking his kayak. It did not. Good thing he had his headcam for evidence. Poor innocent shark, can’t even swim in his ocean without being harassed by Kevin 😂

[@timking2931]

Mate why are u out that far in a kayak at dusk? You’ve basically assembled all the ingredients for a shark attack.

[@defhead2]

News reported he bumped the kayak 5 times. I saw it once.

[@BidenOwesMeGasMoney]

Def Head CNN

[@ChrisMartin-iy2yy]

The guy's voice makes me think Monty Python. 😂

[@The_No_Victim_Zone]

And this is why I kayak in lakes & rivers with no direct access to the sea.

[@and1111000]

In Glencairn, Cape Town, a GW launched out of the water, lay on the back of the speeding kayak for a few seconds, checked out the kayaker, and then slipped off into the dark Atlantic water.

[@Aged-Mark]

If an Western Australian Kayaker says it's a big shark then it's a big shark!

[@roberttheron4697]

The big issue I have with this is, if that shark was truly attacking the boat he would have been in the water. That small Kayak would have been no match for a 1 ton shark. also, if he was so scared, why did he just sit there, he could have paddled to safety.

[@pennymercer4158]

Dude stops paddling because the shark will bite at the paddle in the water and possibly capsize the kayak...destination fucked at that point

[@modesto885]

Looks like it went right under him at 1:52

[@yoshidinono8095]

Nah, it was bad lighting.

[@crazypolite]

What does he expect the guy on the other end to say? Get tf out of there?😂

[@TurnMaster]

A white pointer is attacking the kayak 😂😂 as it slowly swims past 😂😂

[@fipsog3555]

First thing to do is : STOP SPLASHING AROUND !!!!!

[@tracey158]

Nice place just off Point Possession,Albany.This is where they tagged the largest Great White in Australia.

[@itisimonny]

this dude while not even actually paddling, is smacking his oar atop the water surface like, "come here, lil fishy" 🙅‍♀ that oar is the only thing you may have to keep some distance and you're just dangling it in the water while going no where !!!! for the shark to bump/bite explore more

[@sovietskiiy]

Dude was scared for his life.Did you see how big it was ? Its probably a 5m+ great white. There is nothing you can do at this point. But yesche was stupid for doing it

[@niallcameron6433]

Not sure you've ever been in a kayak in tidal waters before based on this take - if you stop paddling, you don't just stop moving - the current carries you away or you start twisting and turning and losing control. To stay upright and relatively stable you actually need to use the paddles.

[@Planetugm]

Out in the open waters with some serious sharks and this guy only realised he’s fishing in a Ski

[@Himannv]

He only survived because he was the cameraman.

[@jf1890]

To sit there and cry "shark" but not do anything about it, but cry for help, which is not near, is FOOLISH. He should of paddled away from shark and helped himself. Don't go out next time!

[@niallcameron6433]

No chance he was gonna out paddle the shark. He's at least a kilometre from shore and paddling furiously would likely only increase the chances of the shark attacking. By this stage his kayak had already been bumped. He did exactly the right thing - stay calm, keep an eye on the shark, decrease the amount of splashing and call for the nearest boat to come and assist.

[@nealsandidge3951]

Reminds me of "Central Park Karen" who called 911 and said "There's an African-American who is threatening my life!" when a birdwatcher asked her to keep her dog on the leash!

[@Dion_Mustard]

Had the shark knocked him off, it wouldn't automatically mean the shark would've attacked the kayaker. Many sharks knock into things then swim away. I'd say it would've been a 50/50 chance the shark would've come in for a bite, but not necessarily to kill him. Still, I was terrified to watch the camera move from left to right. You were almost expecting the jaws to surface.

[@buffwarriors]

50/50 is too much when it comes to your life. Think like this. Would you pull a triger of a half-loaded revolver pointing at you?

[@jeffro1005]

Yeah this is rescue unit 243 we have another idiot in a toothpick boat in the ocean again.

[@DarthTwilight]

That lack of response....Boy, there can't be anything more terrifying than that.. I think I'll use a larger, more shark-resistant device like a submarine that isn't used to smuggle narcotics.

[@fcu866]

Baffles me why anybody would be out that far from shore knowing fine well there are sharks in the water.

[@NotJanine777]

What an idiot. Making no effort whatsoever to get out of the situation himself but expecting others to drop everything to save him.

[@PhantaseaTV]

If the shark was "attacking the kayak" you'd be dead. But i don't blame your sense of panic in such a situation. I reckon you did the right thing by staying still and not splashing too much.

[@rocketman63]

Why anyone would adopt a silhouette like that of a nice, big seal in some of the "great white sharkiest" waters on Earth is truly mystifying!!😮

[@kcwkembm]

This is like going into a forest with a high population of bears without a gun. Then calling search and reacue because you saw one

[@antdx316]

hahaha, I called 911 to get my car out of getting stuck in the snow, the fire department came and left

[@funblog4185]

like him calling anyone is going to help him at all lmao

[@tedted6029]

how was he not paddle to shore in half that video i woulda been at the coffee shop by this point.

[@vancekeith5642]

Just sitting there waiting seems like a very poor idea indeed

[@ME551-w2l]

If the shark really wanted to attack, you wouldn’t be alive to make that call…

[@neomatrix6160]

Emergency, emergency, emergency! I’ve spotted a shark in the ocean! Humans are the silliest of all the species.

[@REVERSE_BIAS]

I don't think sharks find shit tasty...so if it was me in that kayak I'd be completely safe because my shit would be overflowing the sides at an alarming rate!

[@Josytt]

I was waiting for him to say “we’re gonna need a bigger boat” never came

[@SM-ju6dp]

Calls an emergency and does nothing to get to land. Wasting everyone’s time mate

[@WisdomInsightReality]

The shark is thinking to itself, what a Karen lol

[@lindalakota38]

Stop kayaking if you going to panic every time u see a shark .

[@andydidcott]

Dry land, you ain’t gonna get eaten by a large fish.

[@CallengeXcepted]

Why is this guy inviting other people into the water instead of PADDLING 100 yards forward???

[@125raydah3]

Top 5 reasons NOT to mess with the ocean : 1. Shark 2. Great White Shark 3. Great White Shark swimming towards you 4. Great White Shark swimming towards you faster and open its mouth 5. Great White Shark's belly is now full

[@Oldleech]

Anyone else shit their pants when he smacks the camera at the end?

[@craigwilson3170]

MJ 1804 hahaha yes, I was wondering if anyone else reacted the same!