I thought I had lost him, says surfer’s mother who saw shark attack live on TV

The mother of a surfing champion who fought off a shark has spoken of her horror as she saw the events unfold live on TV. Elizabeth Osborne was watching in Australia as the fin of the creature loomed behind her son Mick Fanning. Ms Osborne, whose other son, Sean, died in a car crash 17 years ago, said she feared for the worst as she watched TV coverage of the attack in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. But Fanning, 34, punched the shark in the back to startle it, before being rescued by a jet-ski. His mother said: “I was absolutely terrified. I went over to the television almost as though I could pull him out… to save him.”

It came up and got stuck in my leg rope. I was kicking and screaming. I just saw a fin. I didn’t see teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I punched it in the back.

Mick Fanning

Fanning was competing in the final heat of a world tour event at Jeffreys Bay on Sunday when the shark’s fin appeared behind him. In a churn of water and spray, Fanning, a triple world champion nicknamed White Lightning, fought the creature off and escaped unscathed. His mother said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I thought we’d lost him. When Sean was killed in the car accident, I didn’t see it. I saw this just in front of me. It was just terrible.” The World Surf League, which organised the J-Bay Open, said two sharks were spotted in the water near Fanning and his rival – and close friend – Julian Wilson, also from Australia.

We could see the splashing and he was knocked off his board. I thought this guy was going to die in front of us.

Spectator Kaylee Smit

Sports Mick Fanning