Australian surfing champion Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark in South Africa Sunday night, local time, while participating in a final competition. He was immediately rescued by safety crews, and was not injured.
Live footage shows Fanning being startled by the shark, which initially chewed off his surfboard's leg rope.
Mick Fanning attacked by a shark in @wsl #JBayOpen final. Thank god he is okay, scary stuff !! pic.twitter.com/CXkCiZFdhZ— Luke Marlow (@MarlowLuke) July 19, 2015
Shark at #JBayOpen. Thankfully, Mick Fanning is unharmed. https://t.co/Y20L1PpTMD— #JBayOpen (@wsl) July 19, 2015
“It came up and got stuck in my leg rope,” Fanning told News.com.au. “I instantly just jumped away. It kept coming at my board and I was kicking and screaming. I just saw fins. I didn’t see teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me. I punched it in the back.”
The World Surf League called off the day's event, called the J-Bay Open, after its deputy commissioner Renato Hickel confirmed two sharks were in the water.
Due to the shark incident, #JBayOpen has been called OFF for the day. The athletes are unharmed. More info soon http://t.co/Kq8bZ5eIA7— #JBayOpen (@wsl) July 19, 2015
That was way too close... @Mick_Fanning's severed leash. @wsl pic.twitter.com/W8jyxaGZYc— Rip Curl (@ripcurl) July 19, 2015