Surfer attacked by great white shark on live TV (video)
A professional surfer has survived an attack by a great white shark on live TV during the J-Bay Open surf event in South Africa.
Mick Fanning, the Australian world number four, was in a heat against fellow Australian Julian Wilson at Jeffreys Bay when the incident occurred.
Two large sharks were reportedly spotted in the area.
The attack was caught on camera and shows a shark approaching, before knocking the 34-year-old off his board.
According to ABC News, Mick said: "I literally just jumped away and it just kept coming at my board and I was kicking and swimming.
"I just saw fin - I didn't see the teeth, I was waiting for some teeth to come at me as I was swimming.
"I punched it in the back."
News of the attack quickly spread on Twitter:
That was way too close... @Mick_Fanning's severed leash. @wslpic.twitter.com/W8jyxaGZYc
— Rip Curl (@ripcurl) July 19, 2015
Speaking about the incident afterwards, Mick said: "I just can't believe it. I'm just tripping. ... To walk away from that, I'm just so stoked."
Exclusive interview with @Mick_Fanning after the #JBayOpen shark attack. Full story here http://t.co/Nwfr7XdCQChttp://t.co/nbPWrxfJik
— #JBayOpen (@wsl) July 19, 2015
World Surf League commissioner, Kieren Perrow, told the Guardian: "It's shaken everyone.
"We're just happy to see [Fanning] safe and alive. It's not something you believe would ever happen, and to see it unfold on live [television] is incredibly scary for everyone."
The competition was called off for the day after the incident.
Fanning is a hero in the world of surfing, with only two men, Kelly Slater (11) and his compatriot Mark Richards (four), having won more world titles than his three.
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