25 May 2023 , 08:45
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Two kayakers had a "surreal" encounter with a shark off the coast of west Cork in Ireland, with the animals swimming right under their kayaks.
Louise Barker captured the meeting on video and is heard gasping as the basking shark swims towards her and a fin brushes right alongside her kayak.
Ms Barker, a publicist and music manager, said: “It was a pretty surreal experience having this curious guy pop up next to us. Such a gentle giant.”
The 33 year old had headed out on her first kayaking trip of the year with her friend, Becky Hatchett, 46, on Monday.
“We had perfect weather conditions, so we headed out in Becky’s double kayak, and it did not disappoint.
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The shark got very close to the kayakers (PA)“We had heard about recent basking shark sightings along the coast and we were hoping to catch a glimpse of a fin.”
“I wasn’t expecting to come nose-to-nose with one.”
She later tweeted the video, with the caption: “Had a little bump from a curious basking shark off the west Cork coast yesterday. What a stunning creature.”
Ms Hatchett, an artist and member of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, added: “We’ve seen minke whales, basking sharks and dolphins from the same spot as it’s a very popular feeding ground for wildlife.”
The two friends met during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and became “swimming buddies”.
A basking shark (stock photo) (Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery)Ms Barker said: “We go kayaking and swimming along the west Cork coast all year round.”
Ms Hatchett added: “During Covid, there were so many more sightings, when the fishing boats weren’t around, but now with the trawlers out we don’t see as much activity.”