WATCH: Paddle boarder has incredible close encounter with killer whale

This guy had a heartstoppingly close encounter with a killer whale off the coast of New Zealand, earlier this week.

Luke Reilly, who lives in Whitianga on the Coromandel peninsula, decided to go out paddle boarding when he heard reports that killer whales were in the area.

"Someone said there's some orcas down the beach so I chucked the GoPro in my pocket because I had it surfing," the 27-year-old told 3News.