Kyle Mulinder was kayaking off the coast of Kaikōura in the South Island of New Zealand when he was slapped in the face by an octopus wielded by a seal.

According to The Guardian, ‘the seas off the coast of Kaikōura are renowned for their marine life, drawn to the region by the 50km-long Kaikōura canyon, which creates an unusual series of sea currents that sustains a rich food chain.’

The video clip was first seen on Taiyo Masuda’s Instagram page but has since spread online after going viral on social media.