3-time world champ fights off shark during South Africa comp
By LYNSEY CHUTEL

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Knocked off his board by an attacking shark, three-time world champion Mick Fanning punched the creature before escaping unharmed during the televised finals of a world surfing competition in South Africa on Sunday.

The Australian surfer was struck by the shark from behind and knocked into the water as he sat on his board waiting his turn during the JBay Open in Jeffrey's Bay in the Eastern Cape Province.

As he scans the water, two fins appear and with a splash he disappears under the surface. He is next seen furiously trying to swim to safety before a rescuer pulls him out of the water.

"A big sigh of relief seeing Fanning in one piece," a commentator is heard saying, on the video of the event posted on the World Surf League website.

"I felt something grab, get stuck in my leg rope and instantly jump away. And it just kept coming at my board," Fanning said, once safe on the rescue boat.

Fanning said at first he swam away but then decided to defend himself and turned to punch the shark in the back.

"I saw it taking my board away and I just started cracking it," he told a crowd that gathered around him once he was back on shore, referring to how he struck the shark.

"I'm totally fine. I've got nothing wrong with me," Fanning said in an interview. "There's a small depression in my board and my leg wrap (was) bitten. I'm just totally tripping out. To walk away from that, I'm just so stoked. Oh man."

Fanning's mother, Elizabeth Osborne, who watched the incident live on television in Australia, wept as she told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio the attack was "the worst thing I've ever seen happen to any of my family because it was just there in front of me."

Osborne said she believes Fanning's brother Sean, who died in a car accident 17 years ago, was watching over his sibling.

The World Surf League cancelled the remainder of the event and Fanning will split the prize money with fellow Australian surfer Julian Wilson, who was also in the water when the attack happened. The two will share second place.

"We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today," the league said in a statement. "Mick's composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic."

Commentator Ross Williams said there are occasionally shark sightings in and around events, but an actual attack was very unusual.

"For it to happen in that fashion during the finals, where it actually showed that crazy aggression toward Mick Fanning, such a crazy thing," he said on the video.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-20

Saw it happen live. What a trip. Glad Mick is okay and props to Julian who paddled his butt off toward Mick to help Mick as he saw what was happening. Glad to see Julian in the final and glad Mick is okay. Parko had a close encounter a few years back during a tournament also, but nothing like this. J-Bay and Margaret River are sharky.

Wow, that size that fin... that thing must have been huge.

What are the chances? He's very, very lucky to still be in one piece.

Must be good kharma

He did the right thing...punching it. Sharks are pretty cowardly really. They'll circle prey and check them out first. Maybe they'll nudge the prey with their nose too in order to check if it's safe. That's why they go after sick or injured fish.

I remember Rod and Valerie Taylor (Aussie shark experts) saying the best thing to do when the shark comes up to check you out is to punch it in the nose. I'd probably be a screaming, thrashing mess .... good to see the surfer did the right thing.

They say now to Hit Shark in the Gills or the Eyes if u can, and Face the Shark, if u can't get gills or eyes go for the Nose, Don't play dead or swim frantically.

Show that sharks are not the man-eaters some people think ... They are just curious about the board how it taste and sometime how the person taste ...

Why did he let the shark get away ? Get 4 + beers in me, I'd cold cocked him and ate him - RAW !

Why did he let the shark get away ? Get 4 + beers in me, I'd cold cocked him and ate him - RAW !

I think you already have 4+ beers in you...

I probably wouldn't get eaten by the shark, since the water around me would be filled with poo!

I have an idea.. lets bomb the sharks!

How dare sharks try and kill American White people?

Oh wait it's already happening:

Fox’s Brian Kilmeade: Why aren’t we ‘clearing the waters’ of sharks so ocean swimming is safe?

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade suggested on Monday that beach officials should be “clearing the waters” of sharks to prevent the predators from coming in contact with humans.

“I think that the most shocking thing is that after you hear about the six attacks in North Carolina, okay, these are just swimmers,” Kilmeade noted on Monday’s edition of Fox & Friends. “But then when you see a champion surfer and you have a three camera shoot and an overhead shot, [you] say, ‘Oh my goodness, it could happen anywhere.'”

Thai fisherman.. quick go quick and overfish the sharks!!!

years ago I had a close encounted with a great white ... It was only two feet in front of me and it went for my body !!

Then the aquarium supervisor told us to move on and let the next group through .......

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade suggested on Monday that beach officials should be clearing the waters of sharks to prevent the predators from coming in contact with humans.

Poor old Brian is too thick to realise that erecting shark nets across beaches would be cheaper and more efficient than a worldwide jihad on sharks.