The footage is nothing short of harrowing as the unprecedented attack was broadcast live on television of the three-time world champion being stalked ominously from behind by the huge shark.
Remarkably, Mick Fanning came out of the petrifying attack unscathed, saying…
“I just saw a fin, I didn’t see the teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I was just sitting there and I felt something just get stuck in my leg rope, and I was kicking, trying to get it away,”
Completely distraught and in obvious shock , Fanning was lost for words as he tried to describe the attack, saying…
“I was just about to start moving and then I felt something grab [and] get stuck in my leg rope. And I instantly just jumped away and it just kept coming at my board. I was just started kicking and screaming. Wow!”
Fanning’s manager Ronnie Blakey told Nova FM in Sydney that he’d never seen Fanning so distraught as he broke down on the beach after the attack.
Fanning was competing against fellow Australian, Julian Wilson at the time, who bravely paddled towards his rival during the attack as he was confronted with one of his friends and mentors potentially dying right in front of his eyes. Wilson was understandably shaken and emotional after the attack as he said, through tears, that he felt as though he couldn’t get to Fanning quickly enough.
The two Aussie mates were competing for the final of the JBay Open and are also locked in a battle for the world title. The event was cancelled and while the competition was the furthest thing from both surfer’s minds, the points and prize money were split between Fanning and Wilson for equal second.
In what his manager told Nova FM was surely a throw-away comment after the seriousness of the incident, Fanning had said “I’m happy to not even compete ever again. Seriously, to walk away from that, I’m just so stoked.”
After cancelling the event, The World Surf League announced, “We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today. Mick’s composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic.The safety of our athletes is a priority for the WSL and, after discussions with both finalists, we have decided to cancel the remainder of competition at the J-Bay Open.”
The region of Jeffreys Bay, or J-Bay as it’s affectionately known by locals is notorious for shark attacks but nothing like this incident has ever been captured on live TV.
Ronnie Blakey said that Fanning crashed pretty early after the attack after what must have been the most emotionally draining day of his life. Fanning spoke to his mum directly after the event, who was reportedly overwhelmed with relief after having lost another son to a car accident previously. Blakey told Nova FM that all the competitors gathered around Fanning at his hotel afterwards saying that it was a strange atmosphere that almost felt like a wake – but with Fanning obviously still alive.
Needless to say the rest of the surfing community around the world got behind Fanning. Here’s what Sally Fitzgibbons had to say…
Watch the dramatic incident here…
Video from YouTube
Mick’s interview after the attack…
Video from YouTube
