Australia’s triple surf champion Mick Fanning walked away shaken but uninjured after having a close-encounter with a shark mid-competition in South Africa.

Paddling out to ride his first wave, a menacing grey fin appeared in the water behind him before knocking the 34-year-old off his board. The whole episode being caught live on camera for Sunday’s final of the World Surf League’s J-Bay Open.

“I was just sitting there and I felt something just get stuck in my leg rope, and I was kicking trying to get it away,” Fanning, told Fox Sports channel . “I punched him in the back”.

“I instantly just jumped away. It kept coming at my board and I was kicking and screaming. I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth.”

Fanning made a bee line for the shore and was picked up by a support craft.

That was way too close… Mick_Fanning’s severed leash. wsl pic.twitter.com/W8jyxaGZYc— Rip Curl (@ripcurl) July 19, 2015

In light of the attack, the competition’s organisers decided to end the