WATCH: Paddle boarder has incredible close encounter with killer whale

This is very unnerving.

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.

"I grabbed it thinking something might happen. I didn't think I'd get anything."

He was very wrong.

While paddling out, he noticed the orcas diving for stingrays and one came over to check him out.

"Then this one bee-lined it for me. He popped up about 10cm away from the back of my board. I was a bit nervous thinking, 'what's this guy going to do?'" he said.

Luke said the whale started rolling from side to side to get a better view of him and that's when he appears to have a nibble of the paddle board.

Luke said he was ' a little bit freaked out' but thinks the whale was just curious.

Maybe he just wanted to be friends?

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