Unlucky seal dives into the waiting mouth of a big white shark after leaping from the water.

This unlucky seal took a wrong turn – after jumping straight into the jaws of a great white shark. Photographer Brandon Kilbride, 33, captured the moment the shark clamped its teeth down on this bite-sized Cape Fur seal during a guided tour in South Africa.

Standing on a boat only 30 meters away from the attack, part-time lifeguard Brandon was able to capture the shot near Seal Island, despite being caught off guard.

The grateful killer had only to clamp its razor-sharp set of teeth down on the unlucky mammal.

“We were following a group of seals leaving the island and this individual came past us. We decided to turn and track the juvenile seal as it returned to the island, and as we turned, the shark made its first strike,” said Brandon.

“We saw the shark launch itself out of the water, but the seal had managed to spot the shark coming and was trying to avoid it by also jumping into the air. Seals are very agile and can escape and maneuver a lot faster than sharks.”

“The seal tried to bite the shark on the nose in an attempt to escape, but being on the same path, the shark seems to have pushed through and made a successful kill. The shark didn’t eat the seal on the surface, so we assumed it took it down and ate it underwater.”

The shark then retreated into the waters off Seal Island, South Africa, to finish off its prey. All while astonished sea-goers watched on.

Originally from South Africa, Brandon moved to Manchester and works as a lifeguard and freelance photographer. He described the photos as a total surprise, stating that these interactions happen intensely at certain times of the year. He believes it’s just a matter of time before one manages to capture an image of this nature.

“Sometimes it happens and you get lucky, sometimes it doesn’t, but that uncertainty is what brings us back the following year.”

Hits: 5