A kilometer off the coast of Perth in Western Australia (WA), a group of five sea kayakers found themselves surrounded by a white shark for the second time in just a few days. Estimated to be five meters (16 feet) in length, the shark circled the group for 15 minutes.
Richard Lailey, one of the kayakers in the group, told 9 News Australia that despite this being his second shark encounter while kayaking that week, he was sure that it was a different shark as one of the sharks was tagged.
“I just said… oh no, not again,” Lailey shared in an interview with 9 News Australia.
Inside five kayaker’s dramatic encounter with a five meter white shark off the Perth coast
Footage from a rescue chopper above as well as footage shot by the kayakers themselves shows the large white shark circling beneath the water.
“We did wonder whether I was towing a string of sausages behind my kayak,” Lailey shared in a second interview with 9 News Australia. “But I can assure you that was not the case. I’ve been kayaking off the WA coast here in Perth for over ten years and some friends of mine in the sea kayak club have been paddling for longer than that and we’ve never experienced anything like this before… for it to happen twice in four days is just incredible, just unheard of.”
Lailey also shared that while in both experiences with the sharks the group was frightened, he was more scared in the second encounter.
“One of the things that we do with the club is training,” explained Lailey in the interview. “We have been trained to respond when this sort of thing happens, and the first thing you do if there’s a group of you is you raft up. So you all group up and hang on to each other for dear life.”
Lailey explained that the second thing the group was trained to do was put out a mayday or pan-pan call on a VHF marine radio and wait calmly until help arrives.
“We were just in awe of this fish swimming around us,” said Lailey. “And I think we were kind of semi-mesmerized by it. It’s a surreal experience.”
Experts warn kayaks don’t offer protection from sharks
Lailey shared that some of the group took photos and filmed while waiting for help to arrive, and for the most part the group sat in silence.
A rescue chopper as well as nearby boats responded to the sea kayakers’ distress call. The shark left shortly after, possibly deterred by the motors on the boats, and the kayakers were guided to shore. The site of the incident, Hillarys Dog Beach, was temporarily closed after the encounter. Experts told 9 News Australia that kayaks offer very little protection from sharks.
While shark attacks on kayakers are rare, sea kayakers can occasionally be mistaken for a seal or sea lion from below.
The sea kayaking group plans to hit the water again soon, unfazed by the encounters.
In my lifetime I have canoed well over 30,000 miles on whitewater and flatwater rivers in the US and Canada, but NEVER have I encountered a great white or any other shark on a river. But, some friends of mine from Riggins, Idaho did “find” a 6-foot shark on the banks of the Salmon River just below Riggins last year. It’s those land sharks that worry me. Fins up!