Real Shark Attack Captured on Live TV! Surfer Mick Fanning Knocked Off His Board [Watch]

Professional surfer Mick Fanning endured a close call during a competition in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa on Sunday, July 19.

Fanning was reportedly in the water when two large sharks came toward him and grabbed his board as he attempted to get away. Us Magazine noted that fortunately for him, several rescuers rode up in their jetskis, grabbing him out of the water.

Moments later, he was able to give an interview regarding the terrifying experience.

He shared: "I was just sitting there and then I felt something grab. It just kept coming at my board and I just kept kicking and screaming. I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I punched it in the back."

The event, which was being broadcast on live television, recorded Fanning's close encounter with the species, as did his competitor, Julian Wilson.

He told journalists, "I was swimming in and I had this thought what if it comes for another go at me? So I turned around, so I could at least see it, and before I knew it the boat was there, the jet-skis were there, the jet-skis were there. I just can't believe it."

Fanning's mother, Liz Osborne, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that watching her son getting attacked at sea terrified her. She shared: "I was absolutely terrified. I went over to the television almost as though I could pull him out ... to save him. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I thought we'd lost him."

Brendan Donohoe, Surfrider Foundation Australia chairperson, was glad that Fanning was okay, however, he didn't think that the shark was planning to attack anyone. "[The shark] certainly wasn't, to my mind, in attack mode at all. This is clearly an incident, it's not an attack. If the shark was attacking, Mick would have massive injuries if not loss of life. It was the shark I think coming up to investigate what was going on," he said.

However, the World Surf League canceled the rest of the competition, and Fanning received second place. The prize money will be split between himself and Wilson, who was with him in the water at the time.

A statement by WSL read, "We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today. 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 - they are truly world class at what they do."

Watch Fanning's attack here: