Australian surfer Mick Fanning says he went into "fight or flight" mode when he was attacked by a great white shark during a competition in South Africa.
The 34-year-old escaped unharmed after being knocked off his board while waiting for his turn to compete at the J-Bay Open in Johannesburg.
Fanning says it was a miracle he wasn't injured as the shark up came from behind him.
He was greeted by applause and a standing ovation at a media conference in Sydney this afternoon, where he described the terrifying moment the shark attacked him.
"All of a sudden I felt a presence behind me and that’s when I jumped on my board and it came up and went for the tail of my board, but I don't know why it didn't bite. My board's fine," Fanning said.
"It just moves so fast…I just ran on instinct and knew I had to try and get away from this thing.
"I don't know if I punched it hard or it was baby punches, I just went in to fight or flight.
"From there I started getting dragged underwater by my leg rope and that's when my leg rope broke - just as it started going away.
Julian Wilson, one of the finalists in the competition and a close friend of Fanning, was first to paddle over to Fanning along with the World Surfing League patrol.
"I was just screaming and telling Jules to get in…you never know what you're going to do in that situation and he showed his true integrity and put himself in harm's way to look after me."
"I don't know if I would have made it back to shore if the boats didn't come. I think the boats scared it a little bit."
In footage broadcast live on television, the shark's fin appears behind Fanning who tries to get away before coming off his board.
Fanning goes out of sight as a wave obscures the camera, a moment that the three-time world champion though may have been his last.
"Once the board was gone I thought that was it and I was just waiting to lose a leg, or two."
Fanning told media it would be a few weeks, or months, before he would be ready to get back in the water.
Watch the video for the full press conference with Mick Fanning
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