<p>A group of friends swimming at Hahei Beach, New Zealand on October 21 got a major shock when a pod of killer whales wandered close to shore and sent the friends running out of the water.</p><p>“[We] spotted three orcas swimming about 50 metres offshore,” Kelly Lindsay, who filmed the encounter, said.</p><p>“[We] weren’t aware of the orca at this stage due to the waves; it wasn’t until one of the orca branched away from the pod towards the shore that onlookers started shouting out to the swimmers.”</p><p>TVNZ reported</a> four orcas were spotted near the shore Coromandel Beach, where Lindsay and friends were enjoying their long weekend. A lifeguard said the whales come around to feed on stingrays and this particular pod got about 10 metres away from the beach.</p><p>It this footage, the group of friends panic and run out of the water as the killer whale’s black fin emerges out of the water a few metres away from them. Their delighted screams can be heard off-screen before the orca begins waving its flippers out of shallow waters.</p><p>“[When] the fin emerged from the water… they turned and ran back to the shore in excitement and shock,” Lindsay said. “It was a once in a life time experience to see such a beautiful animal up close in the wild. We won’t be forgetting this any time soon.” Credit: Kelly Lindsay via Storyful</p><br />
