Close Encounter of the Whale Kind....

The unknown woman was paddling at Hout Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, when the majestic creatures were spotted in the waves.

She began to paddle towards the whales to get a closer look, but the pair suddenly dove under the surfer and emerged next to her board.

John Gerrets, a 53-year-old warrant officer in the Dutch army, said: “The woman was on her board when she saw the whale in the distance.

"She went further away from the beach in the direction where she saw the whale and it’s calf.

“All of a sudden, the whale and her calf went under and emerged very close to the lady. The whale kept on coming closer and closer.

“I was afraid that she was about to attack her because there was a calf by her side.”

Sensing danger, the woman began to paddle back to shore – but the protective mother and her calf followed close behind.

He added: “The whales were following the paddle boarder for five to ten minutes.

“She could have killed the paddler with her body or tail. It was very scary to see.”

Luckily, the whales abruptly turned around and headed back out to sea leaving the woman shaken but not harmed.