Mick Fanning's Shark Fight (And Julian Wilson's Back Up) Most Australian Thing Ever

#Straya

Footage of Mick Fanning fighting off a shark mid-tournament has the world simultaneously celebrating the Aussie surfer and swearing off the ocean for the remainder of eternity.

The attack took place during the J-Bay Open World Surf League event in South Africa, as world number four Fanning went up against fellow Australian Julian Wilson at Jeffreys Bay.

The clip – which, for real, mere words can scarcely do justice – shows a shark’s fin sneaking up on Fanning; after a struggle, Fanning is knocked off his board.

Check out the video below, but be warned: despite the happy ending, the clip is a little disturbing, and there is some very understandable coarse language from the announcer witnessing the attack.

Once safe, Fanning described the encounter to media, explaining how he wrestled with the mighty beast before swimming away.

“I just saw fin – I didn’t see the teeth, I was waiting for some teeth to come at me as I was swimming,” he said, before adding, “I punched it in the back,” which, in this particular instance, we will say is not cowardly but actually the most boss sucker punch of all time.

Wilson paddled toward Fanning to help his colleague. Both of these feats pretty much solidified the clichés of Australian-ness until at least the 23rd century.

At the time of publication, this writer was feeling pretty relieved about not having stepped into the ocean in about three years.