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Surf pro fights off S.Africa shark attack in shock TV footage

– ‘Heroic’ –

The WSL cancelled the competition after discussions with both surfers, who agreed to share the winner’s prize money.

“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.

Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater was on the beach when the attack happened.

“I’m lost for words to be honest. We almost just watched our friend get eaten by a shark and I’m just blown away that there’s no damage at all,” he told reporters.

While attacks occur periodically across the world, Australian seven-time world champion Layne Beachley said she had never even seen a shark during her decades in the water, highlighting the rarity of such events.

“I’ve been surfing for more than 40 years, I have never seen a shark or been intimidated by a shark – intimidated by dolphins and whales, but not sharks,” she said in Sydney.

“When we go into this environment we understand that this could potentially happen. But we have never seen this (in a pro event), this is unprecedented.”

Craig Lambinon, spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute in South Africa, told ENCA television news that he believed “it is probably the first time that an incident like this at a surfing competition has been caught on camera”.

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