look. Shark chasing a paddle board off the coast of Florida | outside

Malea Tribble of Florida was competing Monday with Gabriel Barajas in the Crossing For Cystic Fibrosis event — a 133-kilometre (83-mile) paddle race from Bimini in the Bahamas to Lake Worth Beach in Florida — when a giant shark suddenly began chasing them.

They were about halfway — roughly 40 miles from Florida — when Hammerhead detected its presence. “At first I felt a few clicks on the underside of my board, but I shrugged it off, thinking I got some seaweed on my fin,” Triplell told Fox 35.

The shark kept up with Triplets’ pace as he rowed under her and then made her way to her paddling partner, Gabrielle, who was just a few feet from her feet.

Fortunately for both men, Triplets’ husband Rick followed the couple on their journey from a boat and managed to protect the two after guiding them “quietly and safely” away from the shark.

Rick was the first to see the massive dorsal fin on the surface, according to Tribble. “Based on his reaction, I immediately knew it was a shark. I didn’t know what size it was or where it was.”

When I saw the video hours later, the woman was very surprised. “I was surprised that it was so much bigger and closer than I originally thought,” Treble said. “At one point in the video it was completely under my board. I also noticed how fast and intense the movements were. The shark seemed to be curious about what was in its home.”

“I never knew I had such a calm inside of me. It’s just crazy to think about it then,” Triplebell replies.