Video of a fishing boat’s very close encounter with an orca has emerged, prompting delight on social media.
A fisherman captured footage of the killer whale off the Northumberland coast at Beadnell on Tuesday morning.
It was seen swimming up to the boat, spraying water out if its blowhole and disappearing under the sea, before reappearing on the other side of the boat.
William Shiel, who runs boat tours in the area, said the footage was “exciting to see” and the waters there were “crystal clear” and a “haven for wildlife”.
Prof Per Berggren from Newcastle University thinks a pod has travelled to the area because of the large population of young grey seals on the Farne islands this time of year, which are one of their “favourite prey species”.
He added: “In my experience, orcas are the most amazing and most impressive animal you can ever encounter.”
