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| Mick Fanning shark attack: Fellow surfer Julian Wilson hailed as a hero for trying to rescue rival | Mick Fanning shark attack: Fellow surfer Julian Wilson hailed as a hero for trying to rescue rival |
| (6 months later) | |
| A surfer who risked his life trying to rescue Mick Fanning during a shark attack in South Africa has been hailed as a hero. | A surfer who risked his life trying to rescue Mick Fanning during a shark attack in South Africa has been hailed as a hero. |
| Julian Wilson was in the water metres from his Australian rival when the horror unfolded during the J-Bay Open on Sunday. | Julian Wilson was in the water metres from his Australian rival when the horror unfolded during the J-Bay Open on Sunday. |
| As he watched Fanning get knocked off his board while struggling against the shark, he started paddling towards him as fast as he could. | As he watched Fanning get knocked off his board while struggling against the shark, he started paddling towards him as fast as he could. |
| Breaking down during an interview with the World Surf League (WSL), Wilson said he thought his friend was “gone” when a wave washed over him. | Breaking down during an interview with the World Surf League (WSL), Wilson said he thought his friend was “gone” when a wave washed over him. |
| “It came up, and he was wrestling it, and I saw the whole thing, and then I saw he got knocked off his board, and then, a little wave popped up and I just thought, he's gone, he's gone under,” Wilson said. | “It came up, and he was wrestling it, and I saw the whole thing, and then I saw he got knocked off his board, and then, a little wave popped up and I just thought, he's gone, he's gone under,” Wilson said. |
| “I felt like I couldn't get there quick enough.” | |
| Fanning, 34, had told how he punched the shark in the back after it surfaced behind him. | Fanning, 34, had told how he punched the shark in the back after it surfaced behind him. |
| He said the fish “kept coming” at his board as he struggled and kicked and screamed for help. | He said the fish “kept coming” at his board as he struggled and kicked and screamed for help. |
| Wilson, a fellow Australian, said he “couldn't believe” what he was watching and barely thought of his own safety as he paddled towards the shark. | Wilson, a fellow Australian, said he “couldn't believe” what he was watching and barely thought of his own safety as he paddled towards the shark. |
| “I was like, I've got a board, if I get there I can stab it, whatever, I got a weapon and I don't know,” he said. | “I was like, I've got a board, if I get there I can stab it, whatever, I got a weapon and I don't know,” he said. |
| "And then (Fanning) started screaming and I remembered that the boats and stuff were there and we both just started screaming. I was paddling for him. | "And then (Fanning) started screaming and I remembered that the boats and stuff were there and we both just started screaming. I was paddling for him. |
| "I'm just very happy that he's here.” | "I'm just very happy that he's here.” |
| The pair were photographed being dragged out of the water and on to jetskis by rescuers and shared an emotional hug once back on dry land. | |
| They were competing for the world title but asked if the competition “meant anything” to him, Wilson said: “No, not at all. I'm just happy that he’s alive.” | They were competing for the world title but asked if the competition “meant anything” to him, Wilson said: “No, not at all. I'm just happy that he’s alive.” |
| Commentators and fans on television and social media hailed Wilson as a hero for his efforts to save his friend but when told of the praise, he replied: “It wasn't my battle.” | Commentators and fans on television and social media hailed Wilson as a hero for his efforts to save his friend but when told of the praise, he replied: “It wasn't my battle.” |
| He and Fanning chose to split the prize money and ranking points after the J-Bay Open was cancelled because of the risk of further shark attacks. | He and Fanning chose to split the prize money and ranking points after the J-Bay Open was cancelled because of the risk of further shark attacks. |