In a heart-stopping encounter captured on video, two experienced fishermen found themselves in a tense standoff with a massive great white shark off the coast of Urunga, New South Wales, Australia.
The dramatic footage, recorded on Saturday, shows Ken Gerke and David Barwise desperately paddling their kayak as the enormous predator circled them. The clip, which has since gone viral after being shared on Facebook by Gerke, captures the raw fear and adrenaline of the moment as the shark repeatedly approached the small vessel.
The incident began when the pair spotted a large fin slicing through the water. Moments later, the great white accelerated toward their kayak, prompting an immediate and frantic reaction. In the audio of the video, the fishermen can be heard panting heavily and swearing as they tried to distance themselves from the animal.
“It’s chasing me, Dave come here please,” Gerke is heard yelling. “Fing hell! Holy s that’s a big white. He’s a big white, do you see him? I’ve not seen one that big before.”
As the shark continued to circle, Gerke’s voice grew more strained. “He’s very fing interested in me. I’m fing shaking,” he said, conveying the intense fear of the close-quarters encounter.
Despite the terrifying proximity, the shark eventually lost interest and swam away, allowing the two men to escape unharmed. Gerke later described the experience as “an awesome experience” and admitted he had “never seen anything like this beast.”
The video has resonated widely online, amassing more than 1,600 shares on Facebook. Viewers have praised the fishermen’s composure under pressure while offering insights into the shark’s behavior.
One commenter noted the significance of the shark’s body language: “His fins were horizontal, a good sign she was relaxed. When they get agitated, they drop their side fins down. Luckily for you, she was relaxed and just checking you out.”
Another viewer expressed awe at the rare sighting: “How fortunate to see such an amazing animal so close.”
Encounters like this highlight the powerful presence of great white sharks in Australian waters, where they play a vital role in the marine ecosystem. While such close calls can be frightening, experts often point out that sharks are naturally curious predators, and most interactions with humans end without incident when the animals determine there is no suitable prey.
For Gerke and Barwise, the ordeal has become a memorable chapter in their fishing adventures — one now preserved in viral footage that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.