Are these the worst friends in the world? Video shows 'prank' as surfer is pushed into the water right in front of a SHARK



With friends like this, who needs enemies?



A new YouTube video shows horrifying prank - a surfer is pushed into the water directly in front of an oncoming shark.



The surfer was in a boat and the shark draws so close that it must flop out of the water to avoid hitting the oncoming dingy.



Scroll down to see the 'prank'



Prank: This is the moment the man is pushed into the water in the path of an oncoming shark

Dumped: The man struggles to hang on as his friends continue to speed along in their boat

According to the video's up-loader, the video was shot in Ireland off the west coast beach town of Rossnowlagh.



The man's friends cackle with laughter as he struggled to pull himself back into the boat.



'What the f***?! That was mad!' the cameraman says after the victim was pulled back aboard.

Strangely, the victim of the prank seemed to think it was funny, as well.



'He kept coming at me,' the surfer said.



He said he punched at the shark to beat it away.



Too close: The large shark had to flop out of the water to avoid hitting the surfer and the oncoming boat

All laughs: The surfer himself seemed to think the entire incident was a gas and laughed along with his cruel friends

Harmless: The shark involved was reportedly a basking shark, which is gentle and feeds only on plankton

According to the video the prank wasn't nearly as dangerous at it appeared.



The shark in question is reportedly a basking shark - a gentle plankton eater that is not dangerous to humans.

The beasts, nonetheless, can be massive - growing more than 40 feet and weighing up to 21 tons.



Rossnowlagh is known for having particularly good surfing, with waves that can reach up to 20 feet in winter.



VIDEO: Swimming with sharks: See the man getting pushed into the water by friends...