A kayaker tried to keep his calm off the coast of New Zealand as a great white shark trailed him for a while, at times bumping up against the kayak’s rudder. The kayaker, Matthew John Patrick Wells, says the shark was about 4.5 meters long (nearly 15 feet).
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ABC News reports that Wells was fishing for yellowtail kingfish when the shark approached his kayak curiously and then followed him for just under 10 minutes. “Great white shark! I’m outta here,” Wells says as soon as he realizes what was swimming behind him.
“He’s following me, he’s still here, he’s still behind me,” Wells exclaims as he tries to paddle away.
A couple of times, Wells tells his “mate” to get out of the rudder. He also pleads to Tangaroa, the god of the sea in New Zealand’s Maori culture, to help him get home safe. Thankfully, he does.
Watch as a great white shark follows a kayaker in New Zealand here: