While the sea lays a deep blue tarmac for everyone who seeks thrill within its waves, it also harbors some vicious dangers beneath that opaque pathway. From sharp reefs to man-eating predators, the ocean is the residence of several life-threatening perils. Nevertheless, the ocean attacks when a big wave chaser least expects it to. Likewise, 3x World Champion surfer Mick Fanning was once caught off guard as he almost fell prey to a ravenous shark while competing in an elite surfing competition.

The Australian surfer was crowned champion of the World Surf League’s world tour in 2007, 2009, and 2013. In 2015, Fanning’s love for surfing made him participate in the J-Bay Open in South Africa. Interestingly, the Australian made his way to the finals of the event but was attacked by a great white shark that hindered his path to success. Nonetheless, Fanning managed to flee from the shark’s predatory jaws and swam back to the shore. But, the incident stayed etched in his memory. 

Mick Fanning recalled the shark attack he fell prey to

In 2018, Mick Fanning, a.k.a. The White Lightning, appeared in an interview with 60 Minutes, where he reminisced about his encounter with a great white shark. Recalling the attack, Fanning stated, “My board was sideways, and the shark just came like that.”

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Adding further details to the incident, the surfer said, “The main dorsal fin was right there, and I could see the side fin, and I could see where it goes from gray to white.” At that moment, the 3x World Champion felt that “this is really, really bad”.

However, the White Lightning fought off the shark by punching it aggressively. Following this, while the surfer hopped on his surfboard and got back to the shore, he later conceded that the incident haunted him for years, and gave him nightmares. However, he soon found a coping mechanism to deal with his trauma.

The White Lightning faced his fears to heal from the traumatic attack

To get over the scary episode, the Australian decided to embrace his fears, and got up close with sharks in a cage dive with National Geographic. Interestingly, the World Champion stated, “I didn’t know how I’d react once I saw the shark…but I needed to heal myself and see if I’ve gotten over the nightmares I’ve had”.

Calling the truce between his apprehension from the shark attack, and his fascination for the same, the surfer called his attackers “incredible creatures”. Mick Fanning definitely handled his anxieties optimistically, don’t you think?

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