A close encounter between a killer whale and its prey, an otter, is something John Dornellas, 37, has recently experienced up close and personal.

Donellas, who works for an Alaska exploration company and offers boat tours in the area, witnessed a near-death experience before his very eyes.

Dornellas was on his boat when he saw a commotion on the water. He realized that something was getting closer and closer to his ship to avoid being devoured by an orca. The whale’s dorsal fin can be seen approaching as an otter hastily tries to avoid being killed.

Suddenly, the otter comes out of the water and takes refuge in the boat with Donellas, who can’t believe what she’s seeing.

 

“Are you kidding me?” Donellas says out loud while filming the encounter. “Come on up, buddy,” he tells the otter.

For the next several minutes, the otter remains safely aboard the ship while the orca circles its prey. At one point, the otter returns to the water, then changes his mind in favor of the boat.

The close encounter lasted for a while, as the otter ended up going back under the water once the orca had distanced itself from the boat.

Check out this incredible experience by pressing play on the video below. We’re glad this little guy had a happy ending.