Flipper Slap!

A sea lion has given a surfer a helping hand in these hilarious pictures.

Photographer Nick Thake, from Perth, snapped the moment the cheeky mammal pushed the surfer with its flipper as he attempted to ride the wave.

Nick, 37, visited North Beach in Perth last week hoping to get an image of the surf when he accidentally captured the moment the mischievous sea lion breached the water.

The sea lion appears to give the surfer a bit of a nudge. Picture: Nick Thake Photography/Caters News AgencySource:Caters News Agency

Sea lions are curious creatures that often come in for a closer look. Picture: Nick Thake Photography/Caters News AgencySource:Caters News Agency

The photographer, who also works as a marine scientist, could not believe his luck when he looked back at his images.

“That day I went down to the beach to get out of the house, and as always I had a camera in hand knowing I might capture a surf shot with the swell forecasted,” he said.

The image set shows the surfers catching waves, and on one set they had the unexpected visitor.

“Due to the angle of the shot, I have a feeling the surfers were oblivious to the sea lion even when it was mid air,” he said.

“The best thing about these sea lion images is that I didn’t know I had them until I was reviewing them at home and nearly fell off my chair when editing.

Perth photographer Nick Thake. Picture: Caters News AgencySource:Caters News Agency

“An encounter with a sea lion is often an amazing experience, especially when diving. Sea lions are curious creatures and will not hesitate coming in for a closer look.