Respect gives respect, no matter what board you ride.

After undergoing perhaps the most watched shark encounter in history, three-time world surfing champion Mick Fanning knows the horror of coming face to face with every surfer’s nightmare.

But the Coolangatta surfer also knows there are others out there who were not as lucky, like Ballina bodyboarder Matt Lee, who was badly mauled by a Great White Shark while surfing his home break last month (read story here).

With Fanning set to tell his story to Australian audiences on 60 minutes tonight, The Sunday Mail has revealed the champion surfer has selflessly donated his $75,000 appearance fee to Mr Lee’s recovery.

Channel Nine boss David Gyngell has also chipped in a further $25,000 to assist Mr Lee, who remains in Gold Coast University Hospital.

Above: Ballina bodyboarder Matt Lee is reportedly in “good spirits” as he recovers from a shark attack at Lighthouse Beach last month.

Fanning had hoped to visit Mr Lee in hospital for the 60 Minutes segment but Mr Lee needed more surgery and the meeting could not occur.

Read the full story here