Killer whale filmed swimming to within inches of scientists before 'offering fish'

'Killer footage confirms toothfish on the menu ... and the whales are happy to share!'

A scientist managed to capture footage of a killer whale swimming so close it headbutts her camera.

Regina Eisert was standing on sea ice on the coast of Antarctica when the young mammal approached her camera.

The whale can be seen opening its mouth and chewing on some toothfish before it swims away.

Ms Eisert, who is based at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, had been studying Type-C killer whales to better understand the population size, where they live and what they eat.

“Killer footage confirms toothfish on the menu,” she said on Instagram, before going on to joke the whale had offered her some fish. “And the #whales are happy to share!”

“A juvie killer whale approached us on the sea ice in #Antarctica to offer us a piece of toothfish,” she said. ”I love these guys.”

Ms Eisert captured the footage in the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area.