Man shares the waves with killer whale for 45 minutes... because the surf was 'too good to miss'

Man shares the waves with killer whale for 45 minutes... because the surf was 'too good to miss'

By Chris Johnson
Last updated at 1:57 AM on 14th January 2009

As he enjoyed catching a few waves, experienced surfer Craig Hunter had no fear of becoming the hunted as he shared the waters with a killer whale.

Rather than turning back to shore after paddling out past the breakers to be confronted by a giant dorsal fin, he decided the surf was just far too good too miss.

For the next 45 minutes he bravely shared the waves with the giant Orca and, without realising it, two young calves.


Experienced surfer Craig Hunter shares the waves with a killer whale while surfing off New Zealand's North Island

The Orca, a regular visitors to the Taranaki coast in New Zealand, paid little attention to the surfers at Stent Rd surf break near Cape Egmont on Saturday.

Hunter, who has been surfing off New Zealand's North Island for almost 50 years, said: 'There was no way I was going in because the waves were too good.'

'It's pretty awesome. It's a pretty special sort of feeling.

'I was out there on my own for quite a while and the big fella was just cruising. It was really neat.'

Hunter, known to his surfing friends as Billy, said it was not the first time he had surfed with an Orca and added that he was too old to be bothered by the possibility of being attacked.

'My outlook is they are big enough and quick enough. If they thought I was a seal, I'd be long gone.'

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1114729/Man-shares-waves-killer-whale-45-minutes--surf-good-miss.html