You are not a shark expert. Her terror turned to overwhelming relief when it became clear he had survived unscathed. “I think all of us, we go out into the waves and we love to see dolphin fins but if there’s any doubt about what kind of a fin it is, it’s pretty scary.”. ... To walk away from that, I'm just so stoked.". Three-time world surfing champion Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark Sunday during a competition off the coast of South Africa but escaped unharmed. Fanning, who battled the shark for a few seconds before it swam away, was visibly shaken after being rescued by crews on jetskis and boats. "We're just happy to see [Fanning] safe and alive. … I can understand if he walks away feeling that way — after all, having an enormous set of teeth that close to you without your permission can feel like an attack no matter what they’re doing. Judging by the dorsal fin, Casagrande says the shark was most likely a great white between eight- and ten-feet long— not quite full grown, but not a juvenile either. A few thoughts: 1. © Copyright 2020 Skepchick, All Rights Reserved |, Surfer Mick Fanning was NOT Attacked by a Shark. The World Surf League has cancelled the rest of the event, with Wilson and Fanning both agreeing to take second place in the competition. That’s astonishing considering that the shark appeared to be right on top of him. So yes, it’s an absolutely jaw-dropping moment in surfing history, and both Fanning and Wilson, as well as the safety team, should be commended for keeping their cool and getting everyone out of the water safely. The Australian was a finalist in the J-Bay Open when the shark struck, and the incident was captured on television. The illusion that sharks don’t like the taste of human flesh is also wrong. ", Pro surfer survives shark attack in South Africa. The World Surf League cancels the J-Bay Open on Sunday after Australian surfer Mick Fanning escapes a shark attack caught on video. And here is why, backed by science. “If it was a kill attempt, they come at speed from below and they either go for the head or the tail,” Caseagrande says, citing the sort of high velocity breachings made famous by Planet Earth. Then the [shark] came up, and I was on my board and it was like right there, and I saw the whole thing thrashing around. To make the spectacle even more agonising, a wave then hid Fanning as he struggled to escape as the commentators – obviously shocked – tried to explain what was happening. This looks like a pre-attack attack, usually called a bump and bite, from an adolescent shark. Mick Fanning battles shark attack at surfing competition: 'I'm just tripping' This article is more than 5 years old Three-time world surfing champion has lucky escape media caption Surfer Mick Fanning: "I punched the shark in the back" An Australian surfer has made an incredible escape after encountering two sharks during a major competition in South Africa. I felt like it was dragging me underwater, and then my leg wrap broke, and I started swimming and screaming.". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-33585853. “I was getting dragged under by my leg [rope], and then I felt like it kicked me off, but it was still there, and I was still attached to my board. She said she was sure her late son, Sean, who died in a car crash about 17 years ago, was looking out for his brother. That would explain how all that thrashing around happened without Fanning or his board being bitten in any way. AUSSIE surfer Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark on live TV overnight. And while Casagrande says the attack may have looked like “Mick was having the lower half of his leg removed,” the shark was likely investigating whether Fanning was edible prey—not going in for the kill. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. “I just saw the fin, I didn’t see the teeth. You are now subscribed to Dispatch We appreciate the ongoing support we have in South Africa and once again want to express our gratitude to the water safety team.”, The World Surf League commissioner, Kieren Perrow, said he believed it was the first time a surfer had been attacked during competition, and said the incident had left its mark. I’m just tripping ... To walk away from that, I’m just so stoked.”, Fanning added that it wasn’t an entirely one-sided battle. The whole idea of using the Bible as a source of (what we wo... We’ve covered some mind numbingly stupid parenting issues here at Grounded Parents. Let’s not. In that situation, I would have been terrified to the point of paralysis and the calm demeanour of these two surfers was heroic. “The safety of our athletes is a priority for the WSL and, after discussions with both Finalists, we have decided to cancel the remainder of competition at the J-Bay Open. "I'm just tripping. Making a financial contribution to Outside Online only takes a few minutes and will ensure we can continue supplying the trailblazing, informative journalism that readers like you depend on. Of course, mistakes happen, especially when the human is looking particularly nonhuman, like with a wetsuit on and sitting on top of a surfboard. “We’re just happy to see [Fanning] safe and alive. “I wouldn’t say it was an attack,” says the longtime underwater cinematographer, who focuses on great white sharks and has filmed for National Geographic, BBC, and Discovery Channel's Shark Week. This, Casagrande says, may have saved Fanning’s life. (Juvenile sharks prey on fish and stingray, while adult great whites target bigger prey on the surface, Caseagrande says.) He was not used again in news reports. "It's shaken everyone," Perrow said. Doesn’t matter if its human or not. “And then all of a sudden, I felt like I started getting pulled under water. Following my shark attack at the J-Bay Open in South Africa in 2015, I made the documentary Save This Shark. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Find more newsletters on our newsletter sign-up page. Compared to the many professional surfers who have spent A LOT more time in the water catching waves and had way more close encounters than you and the shark experts who do study Great White behavior and concluded that the shark’s behavior was consistent with how they attack (approaching from the rear with a close inspection, take a bite circle back after the prey has died). The Dunning-Kruger effect: Misunderstood, misrepresented, overused and … non-existent? I’d say a big reason why this guy came away without any teeth-marks was that the shark got caught up in the legstrap, hindering its movements. The part where he gets hit in the face is really scary. That’s what the shark is waiting for. There have been 161 unprovoked fatalities in the USA and 277 fatalities in Australia. Sharks aren’t curious in the way that humans are. An assault does not result in any bodily injury, just the fear that such injury would occur. Maybe it wasn’t hunting Fanning at the moment, but as you said, it was checking Fanning out. Pro surfer Mick Fanning’s public scrape with a shark at the J-Bay surf contest Sunday played out like a scene from a horror flick. Not even his board was damaged. “Glad to know this guy and even happier that he swam/walked away unscathed,” he wrote. Viewers saw a large dorsal fin appear behind the three-time world champ and violent thrashing as Fanning appeared to fight off the beast, before a wave blocked the view for a terrifying ten seconds. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Mick Fanning attacked by shark during event in South Africa. It's not yet known what kind of shark it was. Not sensational enough. Fanning said he was "totally fine," claiming that the only things the shark damaged were his surfboard and leg wrap. Fanning noticed the animal at the last moment and paddled away but was soon dragged off his board. Science & Religion Aren’t Compatible (But Only in America). They like eating and will explore every possibility to get a meal. Let’s not. “It could have resulted in one, but he got lucky.”, In an interview after the incident, Fanning said he felt the shark tangle with his leash before he saw the dorsal fin. Thing is with sharks that they don’t attack a “object” which they aren’t sure about what it is. Your conclusion is no different from the rationalization of a drunk girl at frat party in a back room who in moment clarity punches her would be rapist in the balls and runs out of the house WASN’T a Rape attempt because well she didn’t end up raped. There’s been speculation regarding the type of shark that was in the water with Fanning. Given the title, I was hoping for a lost Star Trek Next Gen... looks at title Oh thank god someone is saying it. “Holy shit,” one of them whispered. I know that there’s a chance I may be bitten at some point, but I know that chance is outrageously small. They can come up to it at least 2-3 times without biting and then take a test bite the next. The 34 year old was born to Irish parents in New South Wales, and is known for his modesty and understatement. "I just can't believe it," said Fanning, who was nearly overcome with emotion on multiple instances during his interview with the World Surf League's official website. All rights reserved. That’s the kind of language that leads to more fear and misunderstanding of a fascinating creature, and that fear and misunderstanding is what leads to misguided efforts to keep humans safe, like murdering as many sharks as possible. Fatherhood has been the greatest challenge yet for champion surfer Mick Fanning after 'hitting rock bottom' five years ago. Mick Fanning (pictured surfing in Australia in April 2015) said he felt the great white shark tangle with his leash before the fin surfaced. Surfer Mick Fanning discusses the shark attack he experienced during the World Surf League's J-Bay Open. “We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today,” the WSL said in a statement. I suspect you’re right, but it still would’ve scared the crap out of me.
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