The World Championship Tour surfer was sitting on his board near Sharps Beach on Wednesday, when a shark swiftly followed him.
“I heard a splash and a noise and looked around and couldn’t see anything,” Wilkinson said, according to a statement from Surf Life Saving NSW.
Surf life guards were operating a drone overhead and were able to broadcast a warning from the aircraft’s speakers.
“The drone came down and told me there was a dangerous shark in the area, come back to the beach,” Wilkinson said.
“I was feeling strange on the shore and the lifeguards showed me the footage and I realized how close it was. It looks like it’s going to my leg and has changed my mind.
“I have been surfing with sharks all my life and I understand that they are there and it is enough to know about them that they are not very much interested in humans. I am glad today that the shark has taken a last second Reconsidered, ”Wilkinson said.
After the incident, the beach was evacuated and closed for the day.
Wilkinson was also in competition when Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark in South Africa in 2015.
“I feel grateful and very awkward at the same time, but happy that she decided not to let me go. When I saw the footage I saw similarities, like, I had a yellow toe and Mick’s board was yellow. Was when I came in, I was thinking, ”Wilkinson said.
“I called my wife because I did not want to see the footage before watching it. She doesn’t want me surfing for a few days now. ”
Drone operator, Beau Monks, described watching the encounter from his monitor on the coast.
“It came out of nowhere, then went right on the mat. It went too fast. I was tracking it and informed the lifeguards and used the speakers on the drone to get everyone out of the water.”
“This surfer within 10 seconds and five seconds later was gone.”
The monks told ABC News Breakfast that the sound of drones could dispel great white fear.
“I am not entirely sure why the shark decided to go away at the last minute. It could have been something simpler just by tucking into a foot rope, or it could have been a drone. Sea creatures are known to drift away when the drone finishes, ”he said.
Drones are flown on several beaches across NSW every day of the school holidays, and are used to warn surfers and swimmers of a wide range of hazards, including marine animals.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said drones were the future of aerial surveillance.
“They have proven themselves cheaper and more effective than helicopters and are well liked by the community,” he said.
.