Thousands of spectators watched in horror yesterday when Australian world surfing champion Mick Fanning was attacked by a large shark while surfing in the final of the international live-streamed competition at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay.
A frightened Fanning, interviewed on a jetski as he scrambled aboard, said he had punched the shark in the back after it ambushed him from behind, minutes into the World Surfing League (WSL) J-bay Open final, which is watched live around the world by hundreds of thousands of surfers.
Footage of dorsal and tail fins slicing through the surface as the shark charged Fanning, then thrashing around him sending Fanning flying off his board, raced around the world.
Fanning swam quickly away from his board towards the rocky shore while spectators screamed for the water safety inflatable skiboat and jetskis to rescue him and fellow Australian finalist, Julian Wilson from the water.
The boat circled between Fanning and the shark before he was pulled onto the safety of a jetski.
Although WSL tour manager Renato Hinckel later said on a live broadcast Fanning had been attacked by two sharks, spectators said they only spotted one.
No further details on the two-shark theory was readily available.
Speaking on a live WSL broadcast from the jetski, Fanning said the shark, believed to be a great white, rubbed against him and bit through his legrope.
He said he instantly jumped away from his surfboard and swam towards the rocks as the shark “kept coming” for the board.
WSL African regional media manager Paul Botha, said the contest was immediately called off for the day and an uninjured but shaken Fanning and Wilson taken to a doctor for trauma counselling.
“I saw it happen. Julian Wilson had just ridden a wave and I looked up to see what Mick was doing. There was a lot of thrashing, next second he was 20m from his board.”
SA surfboard shaper Josh “Dutchie” Louw said the shark struck Fanning from behind and then came back at him.
“I am still shaking. It was very scary watching it happen and then seeing it again and again on the big screen.”
Louw also believed the shark was a Great White.
He said the incident, which was screened live to hundreds of thousands of viewers, would hurt the image of the town which is a popular surf tourism destination.
Two years ago a local long distance swimmer was attacked and killed by a massive Great White at Jeffreys Bay Point, which is a few hundred metres down from where Fanning was charged.
Rattled locals said there had been numerous sightings by surfers and spearfishermen in the past three weeks between Supertubes and Point.
Botha said a decision would be taken today after consulting WSL officials and Fanning and Wilson on whether the event would continue or the money be split between the two finalists.
A relieved Fanning was later seen outside the house he is staying in Jeffreys Bay hugging friends.
As the sun sank, surfers were returning to the waves at Point. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
VIDEO: Shark attacks surfer at J-Bay contest
A frightened Fanning, interviewed on a jetski as he scrambled aboard, said he had punched the shark in the back after it ambushed him from behind, minutes into the World Surfing League (WSL) J-bay Open final, which is watched live around the world by hundreds of thousands of surfers.
Footage of dorsal and tail fins slicing through the surface as the shark charged Fanning, then thrashing around him sending Fanning flying off his board, raced around the world.
Fanning swam quickly away from his board towards the rocky shore while spectators screamed for the water safety inflatable skiboat and jetskis to rescue him and fellow Australian finalist, Julian Wilson from the water.
The boat circled between Fanning and the shark before he was pulled onto the safety of a jetski.
Although WSL tour manager Renato Hinckel later said on a live broadcast Fanning had been attacked by two sharks, spectators said they only spotted one.
No further details on the two-shark theory was readily available.
Speaking on a live WSL broadcast from the jetski, Fanning said the shark, believed to be a great white, rubbed against him and bit through his legrope.
He said he instantly jumped away from his surfboard and swam towards the rocks as the shark “kept coming” for the board.
WSL African regional media manager Paul Botha, said the contest was immediately called off for the day and an uninjured but shaken Fanning and Wilson taken to a doctor for trauma counselling.
“I saw it happen. Julian Wilson had just ridden a wave and I looked up to see what Mick was doing. There was a lot of thrashing, next second he was 20m from his board.”
SA surfboard shaper Josh “Dutchie” Louw said the shark struck Fanning from behind and then came back at him.
“I am still shaking. It was very scary watching it happen and then seeing it again and again on the big screen.”
Louw also believed the shark was a Great White.
He said the incident, which was screened live to hundreds of thousands of viewers, would hurt the image of the town which is a popular surf tourism destination.
Two years ago a local long distance swimmer was attacked and killed by a massive Great White at Jeffreys Bay Point, which is a few hundred metres down from where Fanning was charged.
Rattled locals said there had been numerous sightings by surfers and spearfishermen in the past three weeks between Supertubes and Point.
Botha said a decision would be taken today after consulting WSL officials and Fanning and Wilson on whether the event would continue or the money be split between the two finalists.
A relieved Fanning was later seen outside the house he is staying in Jeffreys Bay hugging friends.
As the sun sank, surfers were returning to the waves at Point. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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