Daredevil prods humpback whales in South Africa

A daredevil narrowly avoided being swatted by two huge humpback whales in South Africa who circled him after he swam out to prod one of them.

The moment was captured on camera as the man swam dangerously close to the two whales. 

After being prodded by the swimmer, the whale can be seen lifting its head from the water and proceeds to circle the swimmer.

Harassing whales in the wild is an illegal offence under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as it is seen as harmful to the animals.

The daredevil swimmer reaches out to one of the humpback whales in South Africa and prods the animal on its side

The swimmer can be seen with his head down as he makes its way out to the massive mammal who was near rocks in the sea

The swimmer can be seen with his head down as he makes its way out to the massive mammal who was near rocks in the sea

The swimmer treads water as the two humpback whales circle him in the sea after one of them was prodded by the man

The swimmer treads water as the two humpback whales circle him in the sea after one of them was prodded by the man

The man appears to be smiling as the whale's tail can be seen just poking out of the water as the beast circles the swimmer

The man appears to be smiling as the whale’s tail can be seen just poking out of the water as the beast circles the swimmer

Tour operator Graeme Grant, 47, from Cape Town, captured the images after spotting the swimmer floating dangerously close to the whales

Tour operator Graeme Grant, 47, from Cape Town, captured the images after spotting the swimmer floating dangerously close to the whales

Tour operator Graeme Grant, 47, from Cape Town, captured the images after spotting the swimmer floating dangerously close to the whales.

Graeme said: ‘I spotted four active whales in a group in the middle of the bay.

‘After watching for a while they split up and two whales moved into the bay and came very close to the shoreline.

‘The whales were chasing each other around and then they started circling each other, close to the rocks and a public footpath.

‘We then saw a man in the water, and I couldn’t believe it when he actually touched one of the whales.

‘One slap of a fin would swat him like a fly.

‘Amazingly, the whales both just circled him, and moved away.

‘What the swimmer did was foolish, as well as dangerous and illegal, and I hate to see harassment of whales, so I can’t endorse his actions in any way.

‘However it was amazing to see the interaction, and astounding that he didn’t get hurt.’

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