A spear fisherman flipped off a four-metre long great white shark while calmly waiting to be rescued from the water.

Benjamin Nock was diving for butterfish off Stewart Island, New Zealand, in December 2022 when he felt a shark brush his left shoulder.

Heartstopping footage captured the moment the predator swam around to the front of the 33-year-old forcing him to surface and shout for his boat to pick him up.

While waiting, Benjamin flipped the great white off while it swam towards him, using his spear to keep the animal at bay.

Benjamin said: “I was really enjoying the diving that day as the water visibility was excellent, so when I had a four-metre white swim from behind me coming up from a dive I definitely got a fright.

“It’s strange how something so big can sneak up on you so easily, almost all experiences of be had they just materialise very instantly.

“It reacted and swam away in a hurry, only to come back and check me out, I assume to see if I was edible.

“I knew not to have to many adverse reactions and fast movements and to stand my ground. While I called the boat over.

“When I’m in the water with one of these I know there’s little I can do but be calm be ready and have my guard up. I have a speargun and knife and a lead vest which doubles as protection.

“Once it had come back toward me in a very chill manner I knew it wasn’t going to be an immediate threat and just be a curious shark like I have encountered before.

“I love these animals I have seen five in the past couple of months as they are common this time of year as the water is warmer and seals are having there pups which are easy prey.

“I’ve seen well over 10 sharks in my lifetime and all experiences have been positive. But I’ve definitely been on edge as you can see what they can do.

“Even though I’m in the water up to three times a week down here commercial spearfishing and diving for shell fish, it’s very rare still to see one.”