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Unsung heroism in surfer shark attack

While the Internet is abuzz over Australian surfer Mick Fanning’s shark attack in the middle of a competition in South Africa on Sunday, not many are talking about the incredible heroism displayed by the other surfer in the water at the time.

Fanning was competing in the final of the J-Bay Open, a competition that brings together the top 34 surfers on the World Surf League professional tour. WSL finals feature head-to-head matchups, and Fanning was competing against fellow countryman Julian Wilson, one of the tour’s up-and-coming young stars.

When Fanning was attacked by the shark, Wilson was on the other side of the competition area, well out of danger from that shark, at least.  But as the threat to Fanning became apparent and the beach marshals shouted orders to vacate the water, Wilson instead turned his board the other way - and began paddling towards the shark.

“I was like “I've got a board; if I can get there, I can stab it or whatever,” Wilson said in an interview after the event.

“I’ve got a weapon.”

To reiterate: during the first shark attack ever recorded during a professional surf competition, Julian Wilson took off in the direction of the shark, so he could stab it with his surfboard. That's about as brave, and tough, as a person could get.

What Wilson didn't realize at the time, because of waves blocking his view, was that Fanning had punched the shark, interrupting the attack. What he saw was Fanning, separated from his board, swimming madly towards the beach.

“It came up and he was wrestling it, and then he was gone and I thought “he’s gone under,” a visibly distraught Wilson said afterwards.

“I felt like I couldn’t get there quick enough.”


 

Fortunately, the water patrol got to both surfers in time.

Julian Wilson (red) hugs Mick Fanning (blue).
Julian Wilson (red) hugs Mick Fanning (blue).

The attack also had another, less-dramatic effect on the two surfers. Fanning is ranked #2 overall in the word, and Wilson is #3. Whoever won the J-Bay event would have earned 10,000 points and grabbed first place in the WSL ratings. But because of the attack, the WSL canceled the rest of the contest, and awarded both surfers 8,000 second-place points, preventing either of them from securing first place.

Not that it matters considering the drama that surrounded the attack; Fanning said afterwards that he didn’t care if he ever got on a surfboard again.