The incident was caught on live television, and went viral after two sharks were seen thrashing around the Australian, before knocking the 34-year-old from his board and sending panic through the surf community.
Luckily Fanning escaped unharmed, as his opponent, 26-year-old Australian Julian Wilson and spectators on the beach looked on helplessly.
The surf community, and indeed Australia have certainly been galvanised by the incident, and have thrown their support behind Fanning and Wilson who were visibly shaken in the aftermath of the attack.
— Julian Wilson (@julian_wilson) July 19, 2015
Incredibly happy @Mick_Fanning and @julian_wilson are ok. Holy sh*t!!! #angels
— Stephanie Gilmore (@Steph_gilmore) July 19, 2015
Thank you god for saving the life of this great person!!! Mick Fanning im glad you are ok!!! Obrigado meu... http://t.co/eKIdHUrEcY
— Adriano de Souza (@MineirinhoSurf) July 19, 2015
Thank GOD, you were with this legend today! So glad you and @ouyasupport are fine! God Bless you… https://t.co/MryJ3GpfP6
— Filipe Toledo (@toledo_filipe) July 19, 2015
I'm glad my friends are alive @mfanno @julian_wilson this is the craziest thing I've ever seen! I don't want to se… pic.twitter.com/O0rnqnkZWH
— Owen Wright (@RealOwenWright) July 19, 2015
@mick_fanning you have always been a legend but you just hit hero status! I am so happy that you are… https://t.co/GmbdcXG4JJ
— Josh Kerr (@kerr_azy1) July 19, 2015
i still cant believe what i watched at #jbayopen this morning. completely baffled. glad everyone is okay.
— Kolohe Andino (@kolohe_andino) July 19, 2015
Some things hit a little too close to home and this sure has. @mick_fanning So glad I didn't lose a… https://t.co/obUH9WPy0a
— matt wilkinson (@mattwilko8) July 19, 2015
So so relieved @Mick_Fanning & @julian_wilson made it out of lineup unharmed after Mick was terrifyingly attacked by a shark at #JBayOpen
— Sally Fitzgibbons (@Sally_Fitz) July 19, 2015Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark and came out of it in better shape than me after I'm attacked by an ant. That is unreal.
— Ball Park Music (@ballparkmusic) July 19, 2015
Actually @Mick_Fanning may have to share the award with @julian_wilson. What a legend swimming towards the shark to help his mate! #Straya
— Peter Helliar (@pjhelliar) July 19, 2015
Forget Chuck Norris, Mick Fanning is the modern day badass for wrestling that shark #gladhesok #JBay
— Nic Naitanui (@RealNaitanui) July 19, 2015
Relieved that @Mick_Fanning and Coolum local @julian_wilson are safe after the incident at J-Bay.
— Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer) July 19, 2015
Wow @Mick_Fanning.. Scary stuff.. Enough to keep me out of the pool
— Maverick Weller (@Maverickweller) July 19, 2015
Mick fanning a beast for that
— klay thompson (@KlayThompson) July 19, 2015
Showed Adam Scott the vid of Mick Fanning. Summed it up well: "that.. that's some heavy...."
— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) July 19, 2015