Fanning punched and kicked the shark which thrashed at his underneath the water during the J-Bay final against fellow Australian Julian Wilson at Jeffreys Bay, east of Port Elizabeth.
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The shark bumped three-time world champion Mick Fanning off his board Sunday as he waited his turn during the finals of the JBay Open world surfing competition and stirred the public’s worst fears about sharks.
“I love surfing and I really wanted to surf on my birthday so I went for a surf and my friend was taking photos on the beach”, she said.
He was then taken away by an emergency boat without an injury following the death-defying stunt. “Mick’s composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic”.
The Fannings suffered the loss of Mick’s brother, Sean, in a vehicle accident nearly 17-years-ago and the memories of that frightful day struck his mother as she watched helpessly. “I felt like it was dragging me under water, and then my leg wrap broke, and I started swimming and screaming”.
“Taj Burrow had a shark encounter – we never actually saw the shark – this is the first time in the history of surfing and competitive sport we have seen a shark attack a competitor in the line-up”. I searched the area for about 40 minutes afterwards but the shark was nowhere to be seen. I’m just totally tripping out.
The surfer from Coolum Beach, Queensland, replied to Fanning’s message by tweeting an image of himself sitting next to his girlfriend on a plane, with glasses raised.
Fanning and Julian Wilson were immediately pulled from the water by a nearby safety boat.
“I’m totally fine. I’ve got nothing wrong with me”.
Yeppoon surfer and owner of Capricorn Coast Learn 2 Surf school Pat Eastwood said he was glad to see Mick made it out alive.
“The safety of our athletes is a priority for the WSL and, after discussions with both Finalists, we have chose to cancel the remainder of competition at the J-Bay Open”, the statement read”.
“Sharks occasionally attack but most of the time they attack they don’t finish off their prey at all – they taste it and move on”, he said. Thankfully, Mick Fanning is unharmed.
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Penna said any return to the water from Fanning would have significant consequences with the next leg of the men’s world tour not scheduled until the Billabong Pro in Tahiti on August 14.
