Three-time winner of the World Surf League Mick Fanning had a lucky escape after he had to fend off a shark in the middle of Sunday’s final in Jeffreys Bay, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
South African daily Cape Times put the incident on its front page Monday, with pictures of the 34-year-old Australian swimming away after he was knocked off his board. “I was just sitting there when I felt something get stuck in my leg rope,” explained Fanning afterwards. “It kept coming at my board and I was kicking and screaming.” He walked away unhurt, with only a broken leg rope, though he was visibly shaken.
Fanning and fellow finalist Julian Wilson were rescued promptly and the event was cancelled, with both surfers agreeing to take second place and splitting the prize money.
The entire incident was broadcast live on television, and the commentators obviously shocked as they tried to explain what was happening.
Speaking later to a reporter, Fanning added that he managed to punch the shark in the back. Watch the full video here.
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ABOUT THE SOURCE: The Cape Times is a daily newspaper published in English since 1876. It is printed in Cape Town, South Africa.
