The J-Bay Open surfing competition has been called off after a surfer was knocked off his board by a shark on Sunday.
Mick Fanning, an Australian surfer, was competing in the finals when a shark swam up to him and attacked, knocking Fanning off his board.
In a statement on the World Surf League Facebook page, CEO Paul Speaker said: “We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today. Mick’s composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic and the rapid response of our Water Safety personnel was commendable – they are truly world class at what they do.”
Speaker added: “The safety of our athletes is a priority for the WSL and, after discussions with both Finalists, we have decided to cancel the remainder of competition at the J-Bay Open. We appreciate the ongoing support we have in South Africa and once again want to express our gratitude to the Water Safety Team.”
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