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Surfer Mick Fanning escapes shark attack at JBay Open

Australian surf champion Mick Fanning's shocked mother feared she had lost another son after he was attacked by a huge shark in South Africa, with the sport's top names also left shaken Monday by the terrifying close call.

The 34-year-old was competing in the final heat of a world tour event at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa's Eastern Cape province on Sunday when a looming black fin appeared behind him.

In a churn of water and spray, Fanning, a triple world champion, was knocked off his board as he battled to fend off the animal in images being shown live.

"It came up and got stuck in my leg rope," he said in a television interview after miraculously escaping unscathed.

"I was kicking and screaming. I just saw a fin. I didn't see teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I punched it in the back."
— AFP