On
Jul 19th
2015 while competing in the J-Bay Open World Surf League in South
Africa, Australian surfing star Mick Fanning survived a shark attack.
Fanning was awaiting his first wave during his final against fellow
countryman Julian Wilson when he noticed a fin surfacing behind him.
The 34-year-old battled with the shark and managed to escape to the
shore unharmed.
It
was a lucky escape because the shark got stuck in Fanning's leg rope
and started pulling him under water, but the surfer was able to swim
away when the rope broke. He tried to paddle away when he noticed the
animal, but it dragged him off his board. The spectacle became even
more agonizing for millions of spectators watching as the spectacle
played out on their TV screens when a wave hid Fanning from view.
His
terrified mother feared the most, having lost her other son in a car
accident about 17 years ago. She said she really thought she wouldn't
see her son again after he disappeared behind the wave. She was
relieved when she saw a nearby rescue jet-ski pull him from the
water.
In
a TV interview, Fanning said that he could only see a fin looming
behind him and was waiting for the teeth to come as he was swimming.
It was a close encounter, so close that Fanning even punched the
animal in the back to escape.
The
World Surf League (WSL) confirmed that they spotted two sharks in the
water near Fanning and Wilson. When Wilson figured what was
happening, he furiously paddled towards Fanning to help him. Fanning
hailed his fellow competitor for his courageous actions, while his
mother told reporters that she was still trying to gather if he was
crazy or a hero.
Craig
Lambinon, spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute in South
Africa, stated earlier that it was probably the first time that a
shark attack like this at a surfing competition had been caught live.
Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott who is himself a keen surfer released a
statement saying that it was quite terrifying to see a shark so close
to a surfing contestant.
The
World Surf League commissioner Kieran Perrow said he believed an
incident like this had never happened before during a competition.
Perrow called off the remainder of the competition. He said that the
incident had shaken everyone, but he was very happy to see Fanning
alive. Since the incident was caught live, it was incredibly scary
for everyone.
Fanning
is without any doubt among the greats of modern surfing. With three
world titles, he ranks only behind Mark Richards and Kelly Slater –
Slater has won 11 and Richards has won 11 world titles. After 6 of 11
events completed, Fanning is currently in second spot for the 2015
world title. Throughout his career, he has overcome serious obstacles
to master the art of surfing. This shark battle will definitely help
build his reputation a little more.
