Surfer Mick Fanning has been attacked by a shark during a televised competition in South Africa.
The Australian surfer emerged unharmed after punching the shark and swimming away from it, he said.
The competition has been suspended for the day.
In video of the incident, Fanning appeared to be forced off his board during the J-Bay Open event in Eastern Cape, but was able to escape the shark chasing him at a close distance, a big fin emerging from the water.
"I was just cruising, just waiting for my turn, my opportunity," said the 34-year-old Fanning, a triple world champion who was competing in the finals against fellow Australian Julian Wilson.
"I felt like I was just about to start moving, start paddling, get going again when all of a sudden I had this instinct there was someone behind me and all of a sudden I started getting pulled underwater.
"And then the thing came up. I was on my board and it was like right there and I saw the whole thing like thrashing around.
"I was getting dragged under by leg rope and then I felt like it kicked me off, but it was still there attached to my board.
"It felt like I punched it a couple of times and I felt like it was dragging me underwater and then my leg rope broke and I was like, 'Alright, just start swimming and swimming and swimming.'"
"I can't believe it, I'm tripping out."
He recalled "swimming and screaming and shouting to Jules (Julian Wilson) to move and he was coming at me". He was picked up by a jet ski after the attack and taken to shore.
Fanning, nicknamed "White Lightning" because of his speed in the water, became emotional recalling the close encounter with the shark.
"I'm happy to not even to compete ever again. Seriously, to walk away from that, I'm just so stoked."
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