Surfer Mick Fanning survives shark attack: What did he do right?
Mick Fanning: TV cameras at a surfing competition in South Africa showed a shark approaching Australian surfer Mick Fanning. How he escaped unscathed.
In this image made available by the World Surf League, Australian surfer Mick Flanning is pursued by a shark, in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa, Sunday.
World Surf League via AP
What would you do if you saw a large, gray fin cutting through ocean waters, heading straight for your surfboard?
Three-time world champion surfer Mick Fanning had to answer that question at a competition event in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa on Sunday. Live television cameras showed the Australian surfer lying on his surfboard, waiting for his next wave, when a great white shark approached him.聽 After a struggle obscured by a wave, Mr. Fanning reappeared unscathed, where he was quickly picked up by an emergency boat.
The video of the incident has since gone viral and many have commented on Fanning鈥檚 calm demeanor and quick thinking. In the rescue boat, , 鈥淚 felt something grab, get stuck in my leg rope and instantly jump away. And it just kept coming at my board鈥 punched it in the back .鈥�
He added, 鈥淚鈥檓 totally fine, got nothing wrong with me. There鈥檚 a small depression in my board and my leg wrap (was) bitten.鈥�
聽lists four things Fanning did right:聽
- He fought back.聽The shark may have thought Fanning could hurt it.
- He used his surfboard.聽Shark grabbed surfboard not Fanning.
- He didn鈥檛 thrash around.聽The shark could鈥檝e returned and he remained calm.
- He got out of the water quickly.聽Fanning immediately moved towards shore before boats picked him up.聽
The World Surf League on Sunday:
鈥淲e are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today. Mick鈥檚 composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic and the rapid response of our Water Safety personnel was commendable 鈥� they are truly world class at what they do.鈥�
, Fanning鈥檚 mother, who watched the competition live on television in Australia, wept as she told Australian Broadcasting Crop. Radio the attack was 鈥渢he worst thing I鈥檝e ever seen happen to any of my family because it was just there in front of me.鈥�
聽鈥淚 went over to the television as though I could pull him out of the television. I just wanted to save him really, but there was nothing I could do,"聽.
But those who were there quickly jumped into action. In a moment of true friendship, Fanning鈥檚 competitor and friend, Julian Wilson, paddled toward him. Mr. Wilson was also competing in the event and was in the water when he saw Fanning wrestle with the shark and then go under. , he said 鈥渋t felt like I could get there quick enough.鈥� He added that he was thinking 鈥淚鈥檝e got a board鈥f I get there I can stab it鈥鈥檝e got a weapon.鈥�
Wilson was to a fellow competitor in trouble.
, The World Surf League cancelled the remainder of the event and Fanning will split the prize money with Wilson. The two will share second place.