Drone video captures surfer’s close encounter with shark in Australia

The shark near surfer Matt Wilkinson (Surf Life Saving NSW)

A great white shark circled to within inches of a pro surfer before darting away in a chilling encounter captured by a drone.

The 1.5 metre shark may have been deterred from attacking Matt Wilkinson by the unfamiliar touch of a leg rope on its snout or the overhead noise of the drone, officials said on Thursday.