Mick Fanning, a three-time world surfing champion, fought off a shark attack in the middle of the J-Bay Open competition in South Africa on Sunday, which moved the organizers to cancel the rest of the competition, CNN reported.
Fanning was about to take his first wave for the finals when a fin appeared behind him. He was pulled underwater after the shark grabbed his leg rope. He also seemed to disappear when a huge wave came. The scene was captured on live television which shocked the viewers. Luckily, Fanning was able to escape with the help of rescue boats who helped him alongside fellow finalist Julian Wilson.
"All of [a] sudden, I just had this instinct that something was behind me," Fanning said, according to the World Surf League website. "And then all of a sudden, I felt like I started getting pulled under water. Then the [shark] came up, and I was on my board and it was like right there, and I saw the whole thing thrashing around."
"I was getting dragged under by my leg [rope], and then I felt like it kicked me off, but it was still there, and I was still attached to my board. I felt like it was dragging me under water, and then my leg rope broke, and I started swimming and screaming."
Elizabeth Osborne, the mother of the professional surfer felt so terrified while watching her son being attacked by the shark.
"I was absolutely terrified," she said in a radio interview with ABC News. "I went over to the television almost as though I could pull him out ... to save him. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I thought we'd lost him ... I'm so just grateful he didn't have a leg missing or anything."
Osborne also paid tribute to Wilson who paddled toward the shark during the competition. She also confessed about her fear of losing another son since her son Sean died in a car crash 17 years ago.
Fanning's response to the incident was praised by marine experts for his instinctive attempt to punch the shark. But according to Martin Garwood, from SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, the shark wasn't intending to attack but was merely there to "investigate," The Telegraph reported.
Meanwhile, Kelly Slater, a former world champion said that four hours before the attack, a friend informed her about a shark circling the vicinity which was seen from a drone shot. But she isn't certain if the organizers were aware of the sighting.
