Watch: Shark Attacks Professional Surfer During Surfing Finals

Australian professional surfer and former world champion, Mick Fanning barely escaped from deadly shark attack, on Sunday in South Africa.

Fanning was a finalist in the J-Bay Open when the shark struck, and the incident was captured on television. While Fanning waited for his first wave of the final, a fin surfaced behind him.

Fanning noticed the animal at the last moment and paddled away but was soon dragged off his board. Ashe struggled to get away from the animal as fast as possible, a wave struck him and commentators thought he was gone.

Fanning resurfaced from the water waving his hands to rescuers after few breathtaking seconds.

The incident was too fast that even sports commentators were shocked. Fanning was seconds away from carnage.

Mick Fanning though was not alone in the water.

His friend and competitor, fellow Australian professional surfer, Julian Wilson, was considered a hero. Wilson tried to swim towards Fanning after he saw that his friend was battling for his life against the monster.

Instead of heading for shore, Wilson paddled towards the shark to try and help his friend but was anxious he couldn’t get to him quick enough.

“It came up and he was wrestling it, and I saw he got knocked off his board,” an emotional Wilson said through tears afterwards.

“I was like, ‘I’ve got a board, if I can get there I can stab it or whatever, I’ve got a weapon.”

like everyone else who witness the horrifying incident, Wilson became emotional.

Mick Fanning’s mother has described her terror as she watched a huge shark attack the champion surfer in South Africa and the heart-wrenching moments when she feared she had lost another son.

Elizabeth Osborne was watching the J-Bay Open surf competition live on television when the shark stalked her son.

The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, himself a surfer, said the incident was terrifying.

“It’s just terrifying to think that such a large shark could be so close to a surfing contest and I bet Mick Fanning is one hell of a relieved surfer,” he said. “I think all of us, we go out into the waves and we love to see dolphin fins but if there’s any doubt about what kind of a fin it is, it’s pretty scary.”

The World Surf League has cancelled the rest of the event, with Wilson and Fanning both agreeing to take second place in the competition. The prize money for first place was also split between the pair.

“We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today,” the WSL said in a statement. “Mick’s composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic and the rapid response of our water safety personnel was commendable – they are truly world class at what they do.

 More details at: Therguardian, News.com.au

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