A new shark attack off the Australian coast has revived memories of one of the most memorable events in the history of professional surfing. Surfer Andy McDonald, 61, escaped unharmed after being attacked by a great white shark while surfing in Margaret River, Western Australia, on Monday. This case quickly brought to mind the horror experienced by Mick Fanning, the three-time world champion, exactly ten years ago, when he was surprised by a shark during the final match of the Jeffreys Bay stage, in South Africa.
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McDonald, who was surfing with a group on a hoverboard, fell into the water and saw the animal approaching. – I fell on top of him… and started punching him – the athlete said in a video clip published by the local newspaper Augusta Margaret River Mail. — So I jumped on the sail just to get out of the water and started screaming for help.
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He was rescued by a friend after paddling for 15 minutes on the sand. Despite the fear and the destroyed board, he emerged unharmed. – I’m fine, I lived to tell the story. “I don’t think I’ll sleep for a week,” he said in a relieved tone.
A surfer fights off a shark and escapes unharmed at a famous Australian beach
The videotaped incident is immediately reminiscent of the attack on Mick Fanning in 2015, which was broadcast live around the world. During the final leg of the World Tour to South Africa, the Australian saw the rope on his board being pulled and reacted by punching the great white shark. The image became one of the most iconic moments in the sport’s history and symbolized the line between danger and bravery in professional surfing.
After the episode, Fanning competed for three more seasons, but he realized that this encounter changed the way he looked at the sea. – This was the impetus to think about my life after surfing – he declared, years later, to CEO magazine.
The Australian retired from competition and immersed himself in the business world. Along with his surfer friends Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr, and Biddy Durbidge, he founded the craft brewery Balter, which has sold for more than $100 million in just three years. Since then, he has expanded his investments into diverse areas – from sustainable boards to real estate and gyms – while maintaining the entrepreneurial spirit that has made him famous both on and off the water.
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