Mick Fanning escapes shark attack in J-Bay Open surf event in South Africa
Australian surfing star Mick Fanning has survived being attacked by a shark during the J-Bay Open World Surf League event in South Africa.
Dramatic vision showed a shark thrashing in the water near Fanning during his final against fellow Australian Julian Wilson at Jeffreys Bay, east of Port Elizabeth.
The footage shows a fin sticking out of the water as the shark appears to knock Fanning off his board.
Fanning, the world number four and a triple world champion, said he punched and kicked out at the shark as it broke his leg rope.
The 34-year-old returned to the shore unharmed with the help of organisers, with the competition halted.
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“I literally just jumped away and it just kept coming at my board and I was kicking and swimming,” he said.
“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.
“I was about to start paddling again and I had this instinct that someone was behind me.
“I saw the whole thing just thrashing around … I punched it a couple of times, but I felt like it was dragging me under water.
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