Terrifying moment surfer is attacked by great white shark on live TV as he’s pulled under the water

THIS is the heart-stopping moment a surfer is attacked by a great white shark before fighting it off on live TV.

The resurfaced video that is once again being circulated online shows the terrifying encounter between the shark and Mick Fanning.

The pro-surfer had been competing in the final of the J-Bay Open on the east coast of South Africa when the deadly predator launched itself at him.

In the live broadcast, the beast's fin can be seen approaching the unsuspecting Fanning from behind as he rests on his board.

Suddenly he notices something moving under his board and quickly kicks his legs at the predator while scrambling onto his board.

Then Fanning disappears with huge splashes exploding around where he was.

The horrified crowd watching on begin to shout and whistle as the commentator warns the other competing surfer to exit the water.

Fanning then resurfaces and swims to safety as jet skis rush to his aid.

Luckily the 40-year-old managed to escape without injury - but the heart stopping moment continues to be shared online.

And one version of the clip recently recirculated on TikTok has been viewed more than 3.1million times.

Speaking after his terrifying ordeal, Fanning said: "I was just about to start moving and then I felt something grab [and] get stuck in my leg rope.

"And I instantly just jumped away and it just kept coming at my board. I started kicking and screaming."

The three-time world champion added that he “didn’t see the teeth,” but had seen the shark’s fin.

“I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming,” he said.

"Man, I'm happy to not compete ever again. Like seriously, to walk away from that. I'm just so stoked."

The other surfer competing, Julian Wilson, was hailed a hero after he immediately paddled toward his opponent when he saw the attack.

"It [the shark] came up and he was wrestling it, and I saw he got knocked off his board,” Wilson said emotionally.

"I was like – I’ve got a board, if I can get there I can stab it or whatever, I’ve got a weapon."

The two surfers were given a shared victory and split the prize money.

'HELP ME'

Less than a week later, Fanning returned to the water to surf again dedicating the event to his late brother.

The heart-stopping footage was from a competition in 2015 but has resurfaced due to the number of recent shark attacks in Australia.

Earlier this month, a terrified surfer screamed "help me" as a great white ripped his arm off in front of panicked beachgoers.