AUSSIE surfing champion Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark on live television during the final of a world tour event in South Africa on Sunday night.

Fanning had just begun his heat at Jeffreys Bay when he was knocked off his board and forced to fight for his life. After punching the shark twice he was immediately fished out of the water by safety crews on jet skis and was not hurt.

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“It came up and got stuck in my leg rope,” Fanning said from the jet ski. “I instantly just jumped away. It kept coming at my board and I was kicking and screaming. I just saw fins. I didn’t see teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me. I punched it in the back.”

Fanning’s opponent, fellow Australian Julian Wilson, was also unharmed.

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Initial reports claimed Fanning was attacked by two sharks but it is now believed it was one “very large” great white.

Shark expert Dr Samuel Gruber told news.com.au that judging by the photos it was likely Fanning was attacked by a young great white shark under 3.5 metres, which is about the length of a sedan. Adult great whites have been known to grow to about six metres.

Dr Gruber said it was likely the shark thought Fanning was a seal and that it was “lucky as hell” the surfer emerged unscathed.

“Kind of like a lion jumping on you and missing the leap going over a cliff,” he said.

Dr Daniel Bucher of Southern Cross University said the shark likely got caught up in Fanning’s leg rope which alerted the surfer to his presence.

“He was attacked from behind which is common and his struggles look to have convinced the shark he was not worth a further attack, although he was right to get out of the water as quickly as possible before it could think about returning,” Dr Bucher said.

Fanning was interviewed again on the beach and was unable to fight back tears when reliving the moment.

“I was just about to start paddling again and all of a sudden I had this instinct that something was behind me. Then I started getting pulled under water and the thing came up and I was on my board and it was right there and I saw the whole thing, it was right there. I was getting dragged under by my leg rope,” he said.

“I felt like it was dragging me underwater and then my leg rope broke so I started swimming and screaming ... I just can’t believe it, I’m just tripping out.”

Asked if he felt capable of finishing the event the following day, Fanning said: “Mate, I’m happy to not even compete again. To walk away from that, I’m just so stoked.”

The event has been called off. Fanning and Wilson will split the prizemoney and competition points for first place.

Wilson heroically paddled towards Fanning after seeing the shark attack. He was also moved to tears when describing what happened.

“It was pretty spooky. I saw the whole thing pop up behind him. It came up and he was wrestling it. I saw him get knocked off his board and then a little wave popped up and I thought ‘he’s gone, he’s gone under’. I felt like I couldn’t get there quick enough,” Wilson said. “I’m just happy he’s alive.”

Fanning thanked Wilson for his automatic reaction to come help: “What a legend, coming after me.”

It’s the first time a surfer has been attacked by a shark during a world tour event. Aussie surfer Taj Burrow reported seeing a shark during a heat at Jeffreys Bay in 2003.

“There’s been plenty of attacks here at Jeffreys,” 11-time world champion Kelly Slater said. “Everyone of us knows the risk when we paddle out. I probably thought about it 30 times today ... it’s a reality surfing in Africa.”

South African pro surfer Jordy Smith described the incident as “the craziest thing to ever happen in professional surfing”. “I am so happy that (Fanning) is physically OK,” said Smith, in an Instagram post. “I’m sure something like this doesn’t ever leave your mind. I’m so sorry that this has happened.”

The commentators calling the heat struggled to describe the scenes they were witnessing.

“We’ve never seen anything that dramatic and that frightening,” commentator Joe Turpel said.

Commentator and former tour competitor Ross Williams added: “No one has ever seen anyone attacked in a heat ... it was such a scary thing to see him come off his board.”

The World Surf League released the following statement: “We are incredible 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. 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. We appreciate the ongoing support we have in South Africa and once again want to express out gratitude to the Water Safety Team.”

Fanning is unlikely to let his close encounter derail his tilt at a fourth world title, his manager Ronnie Blakey said.

While he says his mate is “wigged out” by the experience, he doesn’t think he’ll let it come between him and another world title.

“Honestly I don’t think there’s any chance (of him returning to the water quickly),” Blakey told Triple M.

“He was swimming ashore and I have no idea how he escaped major injury.

“I don’t think it will be (the end of his surfing career). He is in a fantastic position to have a run at his fourth world title.

“Going into this final, him and Julian Wilson were battling for the ratings lead. It’s the halfway mark in the championship tour.

“I think Mick will regroup — there’s about a month before Tahiti. I think he’s going to have a strong half in the back end of the season. Everyone at the event believes he’s the man to beat in 2015.”

Former Surfing Victoria chief executive Max Wells, who oversaw Victoria’s Bells Beach world championship event for 25 years, says while Fanning’s experience can only be put down as a random event, shark attacks are an issue that governments need to address.

“As an event director you put in place your risk management protocols for anything, but this has to go down as a random occurrence in a place. It was good to see the way that the water patrol handled the whole incident,” he told ABC Radio.

“The procedures that are in place for running and conducting surfing events are quite sophisticated these days.

“We certainly do have our participants firmly in the front of our mind in respect to all sorts of dangers, not just sharks.

“Certainly with the shark issue as it is in Australia at the moment, there’s a lot of discussion to have. The World Tour is discussing a lot of things. I’ll be interested to hear what marine biologists have to say as there certainly has been a lot more attacks in WA, Queensland and northern New South Wales than in recent years. Why that is, I’m not sure.

“It’s something that government is going to have to tackle, I think.”

Thanks the Lord @Mick_Fanning is OK 🙏 too crazy — brett simpson (@BrettSimpo) July 19, 2015

Did I really just wake up to seeing that😣😢 love you @Mick_Fanning glad you're OK!!!!!!! — Coco Ho (@coco_ho) July 19, 2015

Shark attack on @mick_fanning during the final in Jbay . I cannot believe you're ok brother WOW… https://t.co/KjMVlrM8rq — Jeremy Flores (@floresjeremy) July 19, 2015