A surreal moment caught on camera has left a local beachgoer—and the internet—in absolute awe after a massive shark perfectly photobombed her at Marina State Beach.
SURFER previously reported on the heart-stopping viral video, which surfaced during peak “Sharktober” season.
Now, the woman at the center of the clip has spoken out, revealing the incredible story behind the footage. See below to hear about the experience.
Erin King, a local who described herself as an “ocean girl” born and raised in the area, was enjoying a sunny Saturday at the beach when the rare encounter occurred.
King noticed three young women taking photos and offered to help.
“They were really kind young ladies, who immediately insisted… that they’d take one of me,” King explained in an interview with KSBW Action News 8.
As she posed near the water’s edge, a gigantic great white shark breached violently just yards behind her.
“It happened so fast. I mean, it was just an instant,” King recalled.
Related: Great White Shark Photobombs Woman in Peak ‘Sharktober’ Off California (Video)
She expressed utter disbelief that the camera caught the exact split-second the apex predator launched out of the whitewash.
“That we ended up capturing it on film at the same time, seems impossible. So it just feels like a very magical moment.”
While some internet skeptics initially suspected the viral footage was faked, Chris Cerney of California State Parks confirmed the breach was completely authentic. State Parks independently verified the event after reviewing footage from a nearby Surfline camera.
“Given where she was standing, and the timestamp on her video, which matched up perfectly with the timestamp on the Surfline video, it’s very likely to be the same, same shark,” Cerney confirmed.
Following the spectacular breach, State Parks issued a temporary shark advisory for Marina State Beach. However, officials reiterated that autumn remains the most common time for adult white sharks to migrate back to the central coast.
For King, the terrifying photobomb forged a unique connection with the strangers who filmed it.
“We’re bonded for life,” she said.
Related: Shark Spotted in ‘Literally Ankle-Deep Water’ Among Surfers in Los Angeles (Video)
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