A stunned surfer filmed himself riding a massive wave with a huge hammerhead shark lurking beneath him.
Matt Reynolds had a close call with a beast from the deep when his surf was almost rudely interrupted.
The 56-year-old was left startled after spotting the massive shadow beneath him – instantly recognising the creature’s iconic hammer-shaped head.
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Posting his spooky encounter online, the video quickly went viral, racking up over 576,000 likes.
“I tried my hardest to not panic so I wouldn’t fall,” Matt, from O‘ahu, Hawaii, told What’s The Jam.
“As I was finishing up this particular wave, I was startled by a large shadow below me and I immediately knew it was a hammerhead shark as the water was so clear.
“It was a scary moment as I haven’t seen one this big.”
Mark claims the shark was around 8ft long.
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The footage, captured using his 360 camera, shows the surfer’s face instantly drop when the shadow appeared.
The clip was taken in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Matt and his friend were tow surf foiling.
Waves stretching up to 10ft tall made the morning enjoyable – until the trip out was cut short after spotting the shark.
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The spooked surfer quickly made his way back to the channel on his board to be picked up by a jet ski.
Matt said: “It was a moment I will never forget and I couldn’t wait to see the footage.
“I have seen large marine life many times, whales, turtles, sharks… but this is my first time capturing a shark with such clarity.”
Viewers were left shocked by the clip, taken on 11 Jan.
One person said: “Trusting the ocean way too much.”
Someone else said: “Just when you thought you were the only one out there.”
And another person added: “That’s usually when I fall off.”
Someone else added: “Brings a new meaning to no fall zone.”
One person said: “It’s a whole different world in the ocean.”
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