Intro:

Surfing legend Mick Fanning fights off a shark with a punch in the finals of the J-Bay Open event in Eastern Cape in South Africa.

Script:

Incredible footage from South Africa has emerged of three-time world champion surfer Mick Fanning fending off a shark using his fists and surfboard.

Fanning was left completely unharmed when a shark attacked him in the finals of the J-Bay Open event in Eastern Cape in South Africa.

The event was broadcast live on television and the competition was stopped after the incident.

"I'm happy to not even to compete ever again. Seriously, to walk away from that, I'm just so stoked," said Fanning.

The Australian punched the shark in the back and narrowly escaped being injured.

The surfer's leg rope broke - perhaps bitten by the shark.

A jet ski rescued Fanning and took him to shore.