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| Surfer Mick Fanning's mum saw shark attack on live TV | Surfer Mick Fanning's mum saw shark attack on live TV |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Surf champion Mick Fanning's mum watched "terrified" on live television as her son was attacked by a shark in South African waters. | Surf champion Mick Fanning's mum watched "terrified" on live television as her son was attacked by a shark in South African waters. |
| Fanning, 34 was competing at an event in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape on Sunday when a black fin appeared behind him. | Fanning, 34 was competing at an event in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape on Sunday when a black fin appeared behind him. |
| He punched and kicked the shark and was soon rescued by a jet-ski. | He punched and kicked the shark and was soon rescued by a jet-ski. |
| "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I thought we'd lost him." his mum Elizabeth Osborne told ABC News. | "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I thought we'd lost him." his mum Elizabeth Osborne told ABC News. |
| "I was absolutely terrified. I went over to the television almost as though I could pull him out... to save him," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from her home on Australia's Gold Coast. | "I was absolutely terrified. I went over to the television almost as though I could pull him out... to save him," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from her home on Australia's Gold Coast. |
| Ms Osborne had already lost a son to a car crash 17 years ago and she said those memories came back to her. | Ms Osborne had already lost a son to a car crash 17 years ago and she said those memories came back to her. |
| "When Sean was killed in the car accident, I didn't see it," Ms Osborne said. "I saw this just in front of me. It was just terrible." | "When Sean was killed in the car accident, I didn't see it," Ms Osborne said. "I saw this just in front of me. It was just terrible." |
| Fanning, the defending champion at the tournament and a three-time world champion, escaped without any injuries. | Fanning, the defending champion at the tournament and a three-time world champion, escaped without any injuries. |
| "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 told Fox Sports. "I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth." | "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 told Fox Sports. "I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth." |
| Fanning said he was able to "get a punch into its back" and startle the shark. | Fanning said he was able to "get a punch into its back" and startle the shark. |
| How to avoid a shark attack | |
| Can science stop sharks attacking humans? | Can science stop sharks attacking humans? |
| Australian firm develops 'shark-proof' wetsuits | Australian firm develops 'shark-proof' wetsuits |
| The World Surf League (WSL), which organised the J-Bay Open, said two shark were seen in the water near Fanning and another competitor, Julian Wilson, also from Australia. | The World Surf League (WSL), which organised the J-Bay Open, said two shark were seen in the water near Fanning and another competitor, Julian Wilson, also from Australia. |
| The two surfers are rivals but also friends and Wilson paddled towards Fanning to help him. | The two surfers are rivals but also friends and Wilson paddled towards Fanning to help him. |
| Wilson was emotional afterwards telling the Sydney Morning Herald that he felt as if he couldn't get to Fanning quickly enough. | Wilson was emotional afterwards telling the Sydney Morning Herald that he felt as if he couldn't get to Fanning quickly 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.'" | "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.'" |
| Wilson's mum was also watching on TV and told reporters: "I don't know if he's crazy or a hero." | Wilson's mum was also watching on TV and told reporters: "I don't know if he's crazy or a hero." |
| The commentators said it was the first time they had seen a shark attack a competitor during an event, according to the Herald. The WSL cancelled the tournament after the incident. | The commentators said it was the first time they had seen a shark attack a competitor during an event, according to the Herald. The WSL cancelled the tournament after the incident. |
| "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," it 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," it said in a statement. |
| A video of the incident can be seen on the WSL's website here and the aftermath of the attack can be viewed here. | A video of the incident can be seen on the WSL's website here and the aftermath of the attack can be viewed here. |
| Reuters says the waters are some of the most shark-infested in the world, and that a surfer was killed by a Great White shark close to Jeffreys Bay in 2013. | Reuters says the waters are some of the most shark-infested in the world, and that a surfer was killed by a Great White shark close to Jeffreys Bay in 2013. |