Surfer Mick Fanning escapes shark attack | CNN

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Surfer Mick Fanning's close encounter with shark

02:17 - Source: WSL

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Story highlights

It was during a surfing competition in South Africa

Fanning escaped with a severed leash on his surfboard

CNN —

A surfing competition in South Africa was canceled Sunday after professional surfer Mick Fanning escaped a shark attack in the opening minutes of the final heat.

Organizers of the J-Bay Open, the sixth stop on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League Championship Tour, called off the remainder of the competition. After discussion with WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow, Fanning and competitor Julian Wilson decided to take equal second in rankings points and split the prize purse awarded to the winner.

A surfing competition in South Africa was canceled Sunday after championship surfer Mick Fanning escaped a shark attack in the opening minutes of the final heat. Fanning escaped with a severed leash on his surfboard. He told World Surf League TV that he "punched" the shark "in the back" to scare it away.

Courtesy WSL

Video of the incident appears to show two sharks circling the three-time World Surf League champion. The Water Safety Team pulled Fanning and fellow competitor Julian Wilson out of the waters to safety.

Courtesy WSL

"I had this thought, 'What if it comes around for another go at me?'" Fanning said. "Before I knew it, the boat was there. ... I can't believe it, I was tripping out. I'm totally tripping out."

Courtesy WSL