Heart-stopping moment spear fisherman comes face to face with a massive Great White Shark under the sea…so how did he survive?
Brett Levingston turned to find the 4ft creature just metres away from him and his friends off the coast of Queensland, Australia
A DIVER has come face to face with a great white shark in a heart-stopping moment off the northeast coast of Australia.
Brett Levingston turned to find the four-foot-long shark looking right at him while the Aussie and his mates were spearfishing off Moreton Bay Island in Queensland.
The Queenslander had been diving with his friends, including Kurt Zietlow, Anthony Sercombe and Jamie McCully, about 2kms offshore when the predator appeared out of the shadows.
Friend Mr Zietlow said he surfaced immediately from about 10m after seeing the shark, saying: "I was trying to scream out to Brett underwater to warn him."
Mr Levingston, who had just surfaced himself, said it wasn't until he heard that screaming that he pulled his head from the water to find out what was happening.
He told the : “I pulled my head up to see what my mates were yelling about and as soon as I put my head back in the water that’s the image I got."
He said he believed the creature would have bitten him if he hadn't of given it a poke.
Mr Levingston said: “I think if I didn’t poke it with the speargun it would have had a little nibble."
The Aussie diver later told : "‘Looking into its eyes and its mouth was open an inch – I won’t be forgetting that for a while.
"When I did that I saw its eye roll back into its head, that was pretty cool, I have seen that in all the movies."
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Sharing the experience on social media, Mr Levingston wrote: "Yesterday was without a doubt one of the most unforgettable and memorable experiences I have ever encountered. I came head to head with this graceful & beautiful 3.5-4m Great White Shark. After a quick poke to the head with my Aimrite speargun, luckily it decided I wasn't his feed for the day!"
He thanked his friends for letting him know the creature had gotten so close, saying: "Owe ya a beer legends! great day out and still bagged plenty of fish!"
The group decided to move spots after the encounter but said they were left buzzing after the experience.
Mr Levingston was also forced to defend his decision to give the shark a "poke" after online comments suggested he was trying to hunt the shark.
Writing on Instagram, he said: "The shark was not hurt, killed or injured in anyway that you are implying in your comments.
"Spearfishing (for fish not sharks) is the most selective and sustainable form of fishing by far.
"If you were truly educated, you would be far more concerned about commercial fishing activities that the fish you and your friends buy from the shops has come from. In future, get your facts right before judging."
