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(Image: Andrew Peacock / Barcroft)

Few people are lucky enough to come this close to one of nature's biggest creatures.

But not only did this beautiful minke whale come within arm's length of Andrew Peacock's kayak - the perfect moment was also captured on camera.

This stunning picture shows the gracious marine mammal passing under the expedition doctor's kayak in the Antarctic Peninsula.

While on a three-week yacht expedition with Henry Cookson Adventures earlier this year, 45 year-old Andrew, from Queensland, Australia, took a series of photos of breathtaking scenery and wildlife from the icy waters.

He spotted the whale from the yacht, but got a closer look later on when the inquisitive whale swam just a foot below him to inspect his floating red kayak.

"I was awestruck to be in such close proximity to such a beautiful, elegant ocean mammal," he said.

"Being in a kayak made the encounter seem that much more personal.

"Initially I didn't trust that the whale could detect the exact boundaries of my kayak.

"I was certainly feeling vulnerable and quite nervous that I could end up in the freezing water."