Champion surfer, Mick Fanning, had to face a very different challenge in the waves at the J-Bay Open in South Africa last July 19, when a shark attempted to attack him. Luckily, the three-time world champion managed to fend off the attack and only suffered a bruised hand from punching the shark.

The entire incident, which took place when he was just about to start the final competition in the J-Bay Open, was captured on television as horrified viewers looked on. In the footage, the fin of the shark was clearly seen as it was approaching him from behind. Fanning was then seen furiously swimming to get away from it. Fortunately, he managed to reach a rescue boat and was taken ashore safely along with competitor, Julian Wilson.

Speaking to the media after the incident, which took place in Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, Fanning stated that he did not see the "teeth of the shark" but was aware that it was chasing him and trying to pull him of his board by tugging on his leg rope. He then added that he had managed to punch the shark while he swam away even though he was pulled from his board.

Television viewers had to go through about half a minute of tension as Fanning was pulled into the water and could not be seen as he was totally covered by a wave that obstructed the onlookers' view of the surfer. This left many TV commentators and Fanning's mother shocked but they were soon relieved to learn of his lucky escape.

Fanning's mother, Elizabeth Osborne, who was watching the attack on TV described how she was filled with terror as she thought she was witnessing the death of another of her sons. The Guardian noted, however, that she felt that her son, Sean, who had died several years previously in a car accident, had been keeping an eye out for his brother and helped him escape uninjured.