The photographer who took the images that have travelled around the globe did not even realise he had taken them.
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Local underwater photography enthusiast Mitch Scanlon-Bloor managed to capture the moment a great white shark took the fin of friend Callum Stewart as they swam off Wollongong’s Five Islands on Saturday.
While the pair and friends were free diving with seals off Five Island, a 3.5-metre great white shark appeared out of the depths bumping Mr Stewart and coming face-to-face with the startled diver before making off with his diving fin.
Mr Scanlon-Bloor's images and Mr Stewart’s story were revealed exclusively by the Illawarra Mercury on Monday.
Yet it was only hours after the frightening encounter that Mr Scanlon-Bloor realised he had captured the moment.
“I froze when I saw the shark and my first reaction was to get out of the water,” Mr Scanlon-Bloor said.
“I was putting a fresh battery in the camera so I took it out of the housing and that’s when I realised. Four shots in less than a second.
“In a way I’m blessed to get some kind of evidence it did happen.”
As Mr Scanlon-Bloor held his camera during the commotion, his finger had been on the trigger of the underwater housing protecting the camera, firing off the images.
The images, along with the story, have travelled all over the world this week with a huge media interest in the chance encounter with one of the great predators of the ocean.
The story was picked up by most media outlets across the country and was among the most read articles on the Sydney Morning Herald’s website almost 24 hours after the story broke.
The UK’s most circulated newspaper, The Sun, purchased Mr Scanlon-Bloor’s images while other major UK outlets such as the Daily Mirror also featured the story. In Australia, major national television networks sought the story with Mr Scanlon-Bloor and diving companion and partner Coralie Fleming, who was also in the water, appearing on breakfast television.
“We’ve had our one minute of fame on Sunrise,” Mr Scanlon-Bloor said.
A keen outdoor photographer, diver, rock climber and adventurer, Mr Scanlon-Bloor admitted it may be a little while before he gets back in the water.
However, with an expedition planned for New Zealand in July, it will have to be sooner than later. This weekend’s plans though?
“I think we’re going rock climbing at Jervis Bay, It will be above the sea but not in it.”
You can check out Mr Scanlon-Bloor’s photography at www.stringsnstones.com or on his instagram _mitchsb_
