Australian Surf Champ Tells of Shark Ordeal

Surfer Mick Fanning has had quite a rough week after he got attacked by a shark as he was competing in the J-Bay Open on Tuesday in South Africa.

Fanning, 34, was hailed for managing to fight off the circling predator with his fists before returning safely to shore, becoming an overnight global celebrity after video of the incident went viral around the world.

“I felt myself getting dragged under by my leash”, Fanning said.

‘Gave it a bit of what for’. I saw him start to get kind of manhandled by the shark, and I was kind of freaking out. He commended everyone involved in the rescue, including Wilson, who was “sprint paddling to get to his friend”.

“You just count your lucky stars and if there is someone up there looking after us [then] thanks”, he said. Fanning went on to explain what happened at the time he was attacked.

“Surfing’s got me through the hardest times in my life, so to turn my back on surfing wouldn’t be right”, he told a packed news conference near Sydney airport.

“I was just thinking that by the time I got there I would be swimming down to find him”.

James Grant made headlines around the world in January, 2014 when he stitched up his own wound after being attacked by a shark while spearfishing near Cosy Nook, off the south coast.

On a flight from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg, a woman sitting beside him pointed to the report in a newspaper and asked if the story was about him.

He said when you are out spearfishing that was one of the risks you took, and he has accepted that.

“You’re the true definition of living by the sword”.

WSL chief executive Paul Speaker later added: ‘We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today. To see you stand your ground and…

Australian surfer Mick Fanning says his love affair with Jeffreys Bay means he has to return there despite surviving a shark attack during a contest at the South African beach.

Fanning, who has been part of the world tour since 2002, has been a mentor to Wilson as the World Surfing League has travelled the globe. I have great friends. I just ran on instinct and knew that I had to get away from this thing.

Wilson seemed embarrassed to learn that he had been recommended for a bravery award by his home state of Queensland.

“I’m always proud of Julian”.

And the 34-year-old has always been a savvy investor, with property records showing he purchased his first Tweed Heads apartment for $170,000 in 2000, when he was just 19 years old.

Fanning agreed wholeheartedly, echoing the sentiments of those close to Julian.

What would you do if you saw a large, gray fin cutting through ocean waters, heading straight for your surfboard?