This story first appeared on smh.com.au
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Australian surfer Mick Fanning says he would be happy to never compete again after surviving a shark attack during a surfing event at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa.
The unprecedented attack was broadcast live on television with Fanning remarkably coming out unscathed after he "punched him in the back".
The shark approached ominously from behind as Fanning sat on his board, before launching at him.
"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 said afterwards.
Fanning appeared in shock and at a loss for words as he tried to describe the attack.
"I was just about to start moving and then I felt something grab [and] get stuck in my leg rope. And I instantly just jumped away and it just kept coming at my board. I was just started kicking and screaming. Wow!
"I just saw fin, I didn't see the teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming."
Fanning, a three-time world champion, was competing against fellow Australian Julian Wilson in the world tour event final. The event was cancelled with the surfers to split the prizemoney.
Fanning and Wilson are locked in a world title battle, but the competition was the bottom of both surfers' priority lists following the incident.
"I'm happy to not even compete ever again. Seriously, to walk away from that, I'm just so stoked," said Fanning.
Wilson, who paddled towards Fanning when he saw the attack, was also emotional afterwards, saying through tears that he felt like he couldn't get to Fanning quick enough.
"It came up and he was wrestling it, and I saw he got knocked off his board," Wilson said.
"I was like, 'I've got a board, if I can get there I can stab it or whatever, I've got a weapon"."
Commentators were shocked as they called the attack live on air, with one exclaiming "Holy sh*t! Excuse me." They described the moment later as "dramatic" and "frightening", saying it was the first time they had seen a shark attack a competitor during an event.
Fanning described the shark as "big enough". It was spotted half an hour after the attack, while there were unconfirmed reports of a second shark involved.
The World Surf League announced shortly after the incident that the competition would not continue.
"We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today. Mick's composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic."
The safety of our athletes is a priority for the WSL and, after discussions with both finalists, we have decided to cancel the remainder of competition at the J-Bay Open."
WSL commissioner Kieren Perrow said he wasn't aware of any other professional surf competitions in which a competitor had being attacked.
"It's something that I don't think we'll ever see again, hopefully, in this sport," Mr Perrow said.
"We're just so happy to see (Fanning) still safe and alive. That could have been a really terrible outcome."
Commentators praised the quick response of event officials who raced to Fanning's rescue.
