A surfer enjoying some waves in Christchurch was taken by surprise when a territorial local decided to chase them from the water — capturing the entire ordeal on camera.
Auckland man Jacob Rackham and a friend were out on their usual surf in Banks Peninsula when a seal appeared to defend its territory and charged at them.
"I definitely thought I was in danger," he told 1News.
In the video, which Rackham filmed on a mouth-mounted camera, the seal can be seen leaping out of the surf and charging at him.
"I don't remember a thing. I jumped off my board and used it to distance myself as it lunged at me. Once it went under again, I jumped on and boosted for shore," he said.
"The scary part — it was fight or flight, so we swam 150 metres back to shore."
Rackham said he panicked but saw the seal had backed off to the right.
The 20-year-old student, who studies law and commerce at Canterbury University, posted the clip on TikTok — with many suggesting the seal appeared to be chased by a shark.
The surfer said he had earlier spotted the then-friendly sea creature, which roared at him until it randomly chased him.
"When you surf in the South Island, seals are everywhere, and often they'll swim alongside you — I'm used to swimming with them."
SHARE ME