Melbourne:
A 19-year-old US teen has become an internet sensation after hitching a daring ride on the back of a massive 30 foot-long whale shark.
Chris Kreis from Florida came face to face with a 22680 kg whale shark while fishing in the Gulf of Mexico last week, then hopped on the animal's back and went for a spin.
Kreis' YouTube video has drawn more than 100,000 views since he posted it last week.
The incredible encounter happened 48.3 km off the Captiva's coast, where the teen ran into the boat-sized fish, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.
Kreis jumped on the shark's back, grabbed hold of its fin and rode it for about 20 seconds. He later posted a video of his adventure on YouTube.
"When I started holding on I felt the whale shark started moving itself, it felt the drag and it didn't really want me on there so I let go and that's it," Kreis told local TV station NBC 2.
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea reaching lengths of 40 feet or more, the report said.
Kreis boasted on Facebook last week that his encounter with the critter was an "unbelievable experience".
Kreis confessed that he had no idea that his actions could be harmful to the animal's health.
Chris Kreis from Florida came face to face with a 22680 kg whale shark while fishing in the Gulf of Mexico last week, then hopped on the animal's back and went for a spin.
Kreis' YouTube video has drawn more than 100,000 views since he posted it last week.
The incredible encounter happened 48.3 km off the Captiva's coast, where the teen ran into the boat-sized fish, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.
Kreis jumped on the shark's back, grabbed hold of its fin and rode it for about 20 seconds. He later posted a video of his adventure on YouTube.
"When I started holding on I felt the whale shark started moving itself, it felt the drag and it didn't really want me on there so I let go and that's it," Kreis told local TV station NBC 2.
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea reaching lengths of 40 feet or more, the report said.
Kreis boasted on Facebook last week that his encounter with the critter was an "unbelievable experience".
Kreis confessed that he had no idea that his actions could be harmful to the animal's health.
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