Mick Fanning returns to surf after shark attack with beautiful Instagram photo

Mick Fanning has returned to the water for his first surf since fighting off a large shark at a South African break.

He paddled out near his Tweed Heads home on Saturday morning, five days after he made global headlines for bravely grappling with a large shark on live TV during the final of a world surfing tour event at Jeffreys Bay.

"First surf back. Feels so good. Surfed by myself but had Andy in my thoughts. Happy Birthday brother," Fanning wrote under a silhouetted photo of himself looking out to the ocean, which he posted on Instagram.