Terrifying shark attack on professional surfer is caught on live TV

 
Mick Fanning clings to his board as the shark mounts its attack (Picture: JBay Open)
@wsl/Twitter
Sebastian Mann20 July 2015

This is the incredible moment a world surfing champion was attacked by a shark on live television.

The horrific incident - which surfer Mick Fanning miraculously survived unharmed after he punched the predator in the back - happened during the JBay Open surfing championships in South Africa on Sunday.

Footage of the attack shows the shark's fin emerge ominously from the water before disappearing, sparking a struggle between the beast and the surfer, who clings to his board amid frantic splashing.

The 34-year-old, a three-time world champion, then disappears behind a large wave and a later shot shows several boats racing towards the surfer.

Organisers of the competition, in Kouga in South Africa's Eastern Cape, tweeted to confirm he had survived the attack but said they had suspended the event for the rest of the day.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Due to the shark incident, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JBayOpen?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-408106-https://twitter.com/hashtag/JBayOpen?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#JBayOpen</a> has been called OFF for the day. The athletes are unharmed. More info soon <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&amp;id=222025&amp;p=http://t.co/Kq8bZ5eIA7" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-408106-http://t.co/Kq8bZ5eIA7" data-vars-event-id="c23">http://t.co/Kq8bZ5eIA7</a>— #JBayOpen (@wsl) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/wsl/status/622759237865701377" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-408106-https://twitter.com/wsl/status/622759237865701377" data-vars-event-id="c23">July 19, 2015</a>

Following the attack, the athlete told Fox Sports: "I was just sitting there, I was just about to start moving, and then I felt something grab, just get stuck in my leg rope.

Surfer Mick Fanning takes part in the JBay Open championships earlier this week (Picture: EPA)
EPA

"I instantly just jumped away, and then it just kept coming at my board. I was kicking and screaming.

"I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me. I punched it in the back."

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