Viral video shows paddleboarder's close encounter with whales

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ESPERANCE, Australia — An Australia native was in the right place at the right time to capture incredible footage of his friend paddleboarding amidst two giant whales. The video has since gone viral.

Anyone who spends a lot of time in the outdoors is often reminded that wildlife can surprise you and that we are not always in control while in their environment (cue videos of kayakers almost getting crushed by a breaching whale, a woman being charged by a bison and surfers giving a ride to a baby seal).

Esperance, Australia, local Jaimen Hudson had a similar experience while at Fourth Beach on Sept. 24. He heard there were whales in the area so he hurried to the beach with his drone to capture some footage, according to ABC Esperance. His friend and neighbor, David Price, was paddleboarding off the coastline and encountered the large whales.

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"David Price who lives close by, was just making his way over to the whales on his stand-up paddleboard and they were really inquisitive and came over to meet him," Hudson told ABC. "There was one time when the whales lifted their heads up and looked up over Price's board, they were so inquisitive and wanted to know what he was."

Hudson captured the whole thing on video which immediately went viral after he posted it to YouTube. Despite the close proximity of the whales to his neighbor, Hudson described the scene as more serene than threatening.

"I don't think it was dangerous," he said. "The whales moved to where he was and the whole time they were very slow moving and peaceful."

While it looks peaceful, there is a moment in the video where the two whales are so close to Price that it's almost uncomfortable to watch. However, nothing happens and the whales continue on their merry way.

Hudson describes himself on Instagram as a "Quadriplegic with a Quad-Copter" who hopes to take his drone footage further someday, according to Time Magazine.

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Faith Heaton Jolley

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