Mick Fanning shark attack video: Watch moment surfer fights for his life on live TV

'I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth'

Caroline Mortimer
Tuesday 21 July 2015 09:49 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

This is the terrifying moment when a professional surfer had a brush with death when he was attacked by a shark on live TV.

Mike Fanning was competing in the final of the J-Bay Open, a major surfing competition Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, when a shark approached him and knocked him off his surfboard.

He said he was able to “get a punch into its back” and startle it so he could escape.

He told Fox Sports Australia: "I was just sitting there and I felt something just get stuck in my leg rope, and I was kicking trying to get it away. I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth."

"A big sigh of relief seeing Fanning in one piece," a commentator is heard saying, on the video of the event posted on the World Surf League website.

Osborne said she believes Fanning's brother Sean, who died in a car accident 17 years ago, was watching over his sibling.

Live blog: Follow the latest news from The Open

Live leaderboard

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in