A surfer waiting to catch a wave was unaware of a large shark approaching until a drone operator warned him via a speaker system enabling him to talk to the surfer.
Christopher Joye, actively patrolling for sharks, was flying his specialized drone Sunday afternoon along Werri Beach in the Australian town of Illawarra in New South Wales when he spotted the shark.
“I saw this large shark that looked about three or four meters [10 to 13 feet] circling a surfer,” Joye told the Illawarra Mercury. “The surfer was completely oblivious even though the water was very clear.
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“I used the speaker system to warn the surfer as the shark started clearly heading towards him. As the surfer swung his board towards the beach the animal was spooked and thankfully bolted back out to sea.
“To me it looked like either a bronze whaler or a great white, but I am not sure.”
It was the first time Joye had used his drone speaker system to warn a surfer.
“It is also the first time I have seen one heading for a surfer,” he told the Mercury.
Photo courtesy of Christoper Joye.
