Australian surf champion Mick Fanning has paid tribute to “warrior” mate Julian Wilson for rushing to help as a shark attacked him, while signalling he wants to eventually return to the waves.
The 34-year-old three-time world champion fought off a shark during the final heat of a world tour event at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province on Sunday in dramatic footage beamed live around the world.
He survived unscathed, with his rival and close friend Wilson, also from Australia, furiously paddling towards him to help, despite the danger posed by the shark, believed to be a great white.
This man came to my aid like a warrior!
“This man came to my aid like a warrior!!,” Fanning said of Wilson in an Instagram post after social media went into meltdown over the dramatic close call, with a YouTube click of the attack getting more than 11 million views.
“It was by far the scariest thing I have ever been through and am still rattled,” he added.
Reports in Australia said Queensland state was considering a bravery award for Wilson, whose courageous actions were lauded online.
Speculation has been rife that Fanning may call it quits after hinting that he would not compete again in the moments after his ordeal.
