Surfer Mick Fanning attacked by shark during competition; unharmed

[joseephuss]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33585853

Surfer Mick Fanning escapes shark attack in South Africa

Mick Fanning was competing in Jeffreys Bay, on the eastern Cape, when one of the sharks approached his surfboard.

The final of the J-Bay Open had only just started when Fanning was knocked off his surfboard and into the sea.

Fanning, the defending champion, escaped injury. The tournament was called off soon afterwards.

"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," Fanning was quoted as saying by Sky News Australia

 

[YosemiteSam]

Wow, that was a great video, but why in hell did they cut it so short. Even if the attack was over, it would have been good to see the full reaction of the event.

Glad he wasn't injured. That's some scary bleep.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Wow, that was a great video, but why in hell did they cut it so short. Even if the attack was over, it would have been good to see the full reaction of the event.

Glad he wasn't injured. That's some scary bleep.

Here's the full video after the attack. He's on the rescue boat showing his leg leash bit in two. Very lucky.

 

[zrinkill]

Want your kid to be a bad**** ........... name him Mick

 

[Tabascocat]

Ya know, there are certain parts on this Earth you just need to stay away from if able and South Africa waters is one of them!

That beach is known for shark(Great White) attacks and they were always playing with fire. The shark was obviously going after the board, not the surfer and he got lucky. It helped that is was not one of the big ones.........

Another example of why I am afraid to learn how to surf in Cali
I have and still will dive out here but making myself look like a sea lion/seal on the surface still eludes me!

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

whoa

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

AND THAT! is why I do not swim in the ocean.

 

[MonsterD]

Makes you wonder if there is some kind of shark report or forecast for these events before they start. At the very least they have to have some ppl scouting or surveying the waters beforehand.

 

[DFWJC]

South Africa and Australia are loaded with Great Whites.

I grew up surfing on the Outer Banks of NC but have been in Dallas for 20 years.
Finally getting my closest Dallas friends to join us with their families out there this summer and what happens...record numbers of shark attacks.
Never an issue with sharks before out there, but this year it's pretty thick with them.
Crud!

 

[Roadtrip635]

South Africa and Australia are loaded with Great Whites.

I grew up surfing on the Outer Banks of NC but have been in Dallas for 20 years.
Finally getting my closest Dallas friends to join us with their families out there this summer and what happens...record numbers of shark attacks.
Never an issue with sharks before out there, but this year it's pretty thick with them.
Crud!

Scientists believe the increased shark activity was caused by Katy Perry's halftime SuperBowl performance. Apparently sharks were offended and have decided to take action!

 

[big dog cowboy]

Unbelievable video of this shark attack. Hard to believe he didn't have serious injuries.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

Lucky man.

 

[yimyammer]

Scientists believe the increased shark activity was caused by Katy Perry's halftime SuperBowl performance. Apparently sharks were offended and have decided to take action!

cant really blame em'

 

[JDSmith]

A lot of the times a shark will come by and do a test bump first, then follow with a bite. Most likely when the shark came up it hit the board and figured it wasn't edible. If it had hit him instead it might well have decided to take a taste test. Unbelievable good luck for that guy.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

South Africa and Australia are loaded with Great Whites.

I grew up surfing on the Outer Banks of NC but have been in Dallas for 20 years.
Finally getting my closest Dallas friends to join us with their families out there this summer and what happens...record numbers of shark attacks.
Never an issue with sharks before out there, but this year it's pretty thick with them.
Crud!

Yep... Australia... I have heard some real horror stories in those water with great whites.

This shark though, can we tell what it was? Seems like a high pointy dorsal fin... Although could be angle.

Surfer reacted almost prior to shark getting on top of him. I think that's saved his life. He hit it on it's back... Maybe he got a shot on the head or near the nose.

Incredible.

 

[DallasEast]

Humans. Intelligent enough to comprehend what the food chain is. Dumb enough to put themselves back into it. On purpose.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

This shark though, can we tell what it was? Seems like a high pointy dorsal fin... Although could be angle.

Looked rather large, like Great White or Tiger size.

I saw something today however that said there were two sharks. Don't know if that's true.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

Humans. Intelligent enough to comprehend what the food chain is. Dumb enough to put themselves back into it. On purpose.

Swimming in the ocean make as much sense as wandering aimlessly through the Serengeti.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Looked rather large, like Great White or Tiger size.

I saw something today however that said there were two sharks. Don't know if that's true.

Regardless if one or two sharks ... that dorsal fin in relation to the size of surfer looked HUGE.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

Regardless if one or two sharks ... that dorsal fin in relation to the size of surfer looked HUGE.

Agreed. That was a very big shark.