A new shark attack off the coast of Australia has revived memories of one of the most memorable episodes in professional surfing history. Windsurfer Andy McDonald, 61, escaped unharmed after being attacked by what appeared to be a great white shark while surfing in Margaret River, Western Australia, on Monday. The incident immediately brought to mind the horror experienced exactly 10 years ago when three-time world champion Mick Fanning was startled by a shark in the final of the Jeffreys Bay Stage in South Africa.
- Shark attack in Africa 10 years ago He led surfers to change their lives and make millions. understand
- windsurfer fights shark and escape unscathed on Australia’s famous beaches. watch video
McDonald, who was surfing with a group on a hydrofoil board, fell into the water and saw the animal approaching. “I fell on top of him…and started punching him,” the athlete said in a video published by local newspaper the Augusta-Margaret River Mail. — So I jumped onto the sail to get out of the water and started screaming for help.
After rowing for about 15 minutes to the beach, he was rescued by a friend. Despite the scare and the destroyed board, he emerged unscathed. — It’s okay, I lived to tell this story. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep for a week,” he said with a relieved look on his face.
Windsurfer fights shark at famous Australian beach and escapes unharmed
The incident, which was captured on video, was immediately reminiscent of the attack on Mick Fanning in 2015, which was broadcast live around the world. During the final of the South Africa stage of the World Tour, an Australian player saw the rope on his board being pulled and reacted by punching a great white shark. This image became one of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport, symbolizing the line between danger and courage in professional surfing.
After this episode, Fanning competed for three more seasons, but recognized that the encounter changed the way he viewed the ocean. — which made him think about his life after surfing, he declared years later in CEO Magazine.
The Australian retired from competition and immersed himself in the business world. He founded craft brewery Balter with surfer friends including Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbidge, which turned over $100 million in sales in just three years. Since then, he has expanded his investments into a variety of areas, from sustainable boards to real estate to gyms, while maintaining the entrepreneurial spirit that made him famous both on and off the water.
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