<p>Ballina is considered the “shark attack capital”</a> of Australia. So when local man Craig Bateman was surfing and then saw a dorsal fin protruding from the water on July 25, he braced for the worst.</p><p>Bateman, 42, said he had been surfing with a friend near Ballina. After riding a wave, he turned around and saw the fin directly behind him.</p><p>“My life flashed before my eyes,” he said.</p><p>Bateman’s first instinct was to yell, but when he realised the grey aquatic animal wasn’t a hungry shark, but a dolphin, he broke into laughter.</p><p>He said he has never been that close to a shark at Ballina before. Drones would typically monitor the waters and lifeguards would alert swimmers and surfers to their presence before they could get close. Credit: Craig Bateman via Storyful</p><br />
