Shark attacks are common in South Africa, but never has a surfer been attacked by a shark in the middle of a competition before.
Yesterday during the final of the J-Bay Open 2015, pro surfer Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark which severed his leash but luckily left the Australian unharmed.
Shark attack at #JBayOpen. Thankfully, Mick Fanning is unharmed. The event has been canceled: bit.ly/JBayShark
Posted by World Surf League on Sunday, 19 July 2015
The Water Safety Team arrived on the scene quickly and pulled both Fanning and his fellow competitor Julian Wilson out of the water. The final was called off and the pair split the prize money.
“I was just sitting there and I felt something grab or get stuck in my leg rope and I instantly just jumped away,” Fanning told the WSL afterwards.
“It just kept coming at my board and I was kicking and screaming. I just saw fins, I didn’t see any teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I punched it in the back. I’m totally fine, I’ve got nothing wrong with me.”
Now we’ve truly seen it all. Thank goodness Fanning was OK.
