The 34-year-old three-time world champion fought off a shark during the final heat of a world tour event at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province on Sunday in dramatic vision beamed live around the world. “And I instantly just jumped away and it just kept coming at my board”.
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A still-shaken Mick Fanning will never again hit the surf on July 19, his terrifying attack by a shark at Jeffreys Bay forever staining the date in his memory.
A marine biologist says surfer Mick Fanning did the right thing when he was attacked by a shark on Sunday.
Fanning said he could sense the shark looming behind him, and turned to see it just as contact was made.
A professional surfer who miraculously survived a shark attack that was broadcast on live television said he’s “stoked” to be alive.
Fanning, hidden from the cameras by a wave, managed to punch the shark on the back, a move that bought him a little time. I just ran on instinct and knew that I had to get away from this thing.
If there happens to be an Anchorman 3 I am sure Ron Burgundy would love to use the footage as shown above.
“We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today”, the World Surf League (WSL) said in a statement.
Kelly Slater, the 11-time world surfing champion, said he received an email from a friend who said he saw the shark during the quarterfinals. And all of a sudden my leg rope broke and I was just like “all right”.
“It was so fearless and as I said, he is just a warrior”.
“I was trying to weigh up the situation and he was getting wrestled off his board and a wave came between us…”
Wilson is also on his way home after giving a highly emotional account of his battle to reach his friend and his fears Fanning had been pulled under by the shark. “Speculation has been rife that Fanning may call it quits after hinting, in the moments after his terrifying ordeal, that he would not compete again”. As the seasoned surfer was being attacked by the shark, nobody could do anything but wait it out.
“It will probably take – I don’t know – a couple of weeks, months”. “When Sean was killed in the car accident, I didn’t see it. I saw this just in front of me. I bet Mick Fanning is one hell of a relieved surfer”.
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Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson and Red Bull and Rip Curl.
