The footage from a surfing competition that saw Aussie legend Mick Fanning attacked by a shark has spread through the web like wildfire.
Fanning, thankfully and luckily unhurt from the attack, was one of the final two surfers during the J-Bay Open event held in South Africa. The horrifying footage was captured on live TV.
Fanning said he punched the shark in the back in order to get away, and he and fellow competitor Julian Wilson were soon rescued.
Social media has been quick to declare Fanning a “badass” after punching the shark and miraculously getting out unscathed. Wilson too has been hailed as courageous for paddling towards the shark attack to try and help.
Forget Chuck Norris, Mick Fanning is the modern day badass for wrestling that shark #gladhesok #JBay
— Nic Naitanui (@RealNaitanui) July 19, 2015
This surfer may have just won the 2015 Badass of the Year Award…. http://t.co/qq9R4VJnPX
— Jennifer Smith (@smithontheice) July 19, 2015
I know you were just reacting, @Mick_Fanning, but we’re going to put your picture next to “badass” in the dictionary https://t.co/UySvKmED4d
— Uncle Fishbits (@UncleFishbits) July 19, 2015
Mick Fanning is badass of the week
— Diego Manziel (@diegoELfuego42) July 19, 2015
You may think you’re badass but you’ll never be as badass as Mick”I punched a shark” Fanning #Straya
— Ness Cryer (@lochness007) July 20, 2015
So badass that Mick Fanning fought off a damn shark on live TV during the JBAY surf finals
— Russell Gerber (@Gerber_294) July 19, 2015
Similarly US sport fan-focused publication Fansided declared Fanning just “became the world’s biggest badass”.
Maybe the surfing competition needs to invest in Optus’ Clever Buoy project from M&C Saatchi, a piece of tech that detects sharks.
Thank God Fanning is okay. Image via SBS.
