Seconds from mauling: Surfer's close encounter with great white
A drone hovering off NSW’s north coast captured the spine-chilling moment an unsuspecting surfer came within seconds of being mauled by a huge great white shark.
The footage was shot by the state’s Department of Primary Industry over the summer.
It shows the shark swimming in open waters before moving closer to the beach, where two surfers were sitting in the water.
It can be seen making a go for one of the surfers, who appeared unaware of its approach.
Luckily the surfer caught a wave but just as one was carried to safety, the other surfer was directly heading into the predator’s path.
The shark heads toward the surfer but at the last moment takes a sudden turn and swims back to open water.
There were heightened fears in the area last year after three shark attacks within six weeks, prompting the government to trial shark nets.
'Don’t tell mum': Teen surfer attacked by shark at Ballina’s Lighthouse beach
Marine deaths triple in Ballina shark nets
Earlier this month it was reported that almost triple the number of marine animals were killed in the second month of the controversial trial.
Just one great white shark was among the animals caught in the nets but there have been no shark attacks since they were installed.
