The 32-year-old surfer from Sydney says that he never saw the shark but that he heard the fin or tail fin when it broke the water surface.
- I had a shady feeling but certified myself that everything was fine, as you always do when you are out surfing, Wilkinson says to Nine Network television.
Shortly afterwards, he heard the drone warn that there was a dangerous shark in the area and that everyone must leave the water.
The drone is part of an Australian shark safety system.
It is unclear why the shark stopped its attack, but drone operator Beau Monks tells Australian Broadcasting Corp that he believes the shark may have been disturbed by the surfer's "leg rope" or that the drone scared away the white shark.
See the event in the clip above.