A man has described himself as ‘lucky’ after spotting a 25 foot creature pick up the pace and rapidly swim towards him while he was out on the open water in a small kayak
The man was exploring in a kayak when the huge creature approached (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
A man kayaking in Scotland described himself as “lucky” when he spotted a giant creature swimming quickly towards his boat. The ocean is home to more than 240,000 known marine species, with countless others constantly being discovered.
When out in the sea, spotting a fin breaching the surface and heading towards you is, understandably, a cause of fear and anxiety with many people terrified of being attacked by a shark. Shark attacks on humans are rare, with most cases being due to people being mistakenly identified as a fish or a seal. Sharks are incredibly important for the overall health of the ocean and help ensure a balanced ecosystem. Their presence in the sea is indicative of a healthy ocean.
Still, spotting one may still instil panic. Outdoor lover Sebastian was kayaking in Scotland when he saw a “huge fin coming towards” him which turned out to be a “25 foot shark”.
It was a basking shark, the second-largest living shark and fish in the ocean – after the whale shark. These gentle giants feed on plankton.
In a video captured on his Go-Pro camera, Sebastian can be seen sitting in a kayak as the huge fin swims rapidly towards him.
He leaves his hand dangling in the water as the shark swims along the side of his boat, coming within touching distance of him.
In the caption accompanying the video, which he shared on TikTok, Sebastian penned: “Imagine you’re out kayaking and you see a huge fin coming towards you and then realise it’s a 25 foot shark coming right at you.
“Incredibly lucky to have this huge animal come right up to the kayak!”
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Sebastian made sure not to touch the shark, though. He added: “For clarification it’s an offence to intentionally disturb wildlife in Scotland and this video was filmed at a safe respectful distance as I observed the shark feeding.
“I was sat still for a prolonged period of time before the shark came over towards the kayak and continued to feed behind me and I left the area once it passed me. My hand is in the water as I was filming with a GoPro as it went past. I was not trying to touch the animal and I would never condone anyone to touch a wild animal.”
The video has, so far, been viewed more than 4.3 million times. In the comments section, people were keen to share their thoughts.
One person said: “And you left your hand in the water?!!!! I’m sorry sir were you trying to be the starter for his 3 course meal?!!”
Another said: “Nope, I don’t care if it’s the friendliest shark in the world. Anything that big approaching me when I’m in a tiny wee boat would give me instant death.”
A third quipped: “I get my hand out of the water what the hell guy.” Sebastian replied: “Need that GoPro shot.”
Someone else asked: “I know it’s a basking shark, but did your heart stop when you saw that fin?”
Sebastian said: “Haha if I wasn’t in Scotland yes.”
Another TikTok user commented: “Even though it’s a basking shark, the Jaws theme music would automatically kick in as soon as I saw the fin.”
And another said: “Basking shark! Pretty rare to see them like this,” while someone else joked: “Jaws theme with bagpipes.”