'I couldn't get to Mick quickly enough'

Australian surfer Julian Wilson has described how he paddled towards a shark as it attacked fellow competitor Mick Fanning during an event at Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa.

Triple world champion Fanning emerged unscathed after the shark knocked him off his board during the final of the World Surfing League event, the J-Bay Open.Competitor Julian Wilson said when he saw a wave pass over the 34-year-old, he thought he was “gone”.

“It came up, and he was wrestling it, and I saw the whole thing, then I saw he got knocked off his board, and then like a little wave popped up and I just thought, he’s gone, he’s gone under,” Wilson said through tears after the incident.

“I felt like I couldn’t get there quick enough.”The remainder of the final was cancelled and the prize money and competition points have been split between the two.Fanning said he was shaken by the close encounter.“I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth,” he said.