Surf champ Mick Fanning wins world event at beach where he was attacked by a shark a year ago
World number one triumphs in South Africa at scene of Great White scare 12 months ago
SURF champ Mick Fanning has shown huge courage to win a world event title at the same spot he was attacked by a shark just a year ago.
Australian Fanning was in the water at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, 12 months ago when he was set upon by a Great White.
The former world number one somehow managed to fight off the creature before fleeing to the safety of dry land.
Yet he was back in the exact location over the weekend - and capped a remarkable return by winning the World Surfing League event.
Fanning said: "I'm just stoked that I actually got to come back and right the wrong - that was my whole plan, to just right the wrongs that happened a year ago.
"And we did that, so now we can move on.
"It just feels a lot lighter not going for the world title and not having that pressure on."
Fanning has been on a reduced schedule ever since the attack, in a year where he has also been hit by the death of his brother and break-up of his marriage.
The 35-year-old beat off competition from Hawaiian rider John John Florence in the final.