Fresh wave of fear
J-Bay shark sighting revives memories of Fanning attack
PRO surfer Julian Wilson has suffered another shark scare at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa two years on from his infamous final with Mick Fanning.
Wilson’s Round 4 heat at the J-Bay open was halted when a 2m shark was spotted breaching behind the line-up during competition.
Wilson and Filipe Toledo were plucked from the water by jet skis, with South African competitor Jordy Smith riding a wave to shore after officials saw what was believed to be a mako shark breach out of the water about 100m behind the break.
The incident is sure to revive memories for Wilson, who was in the water when Gold Coaster Fanning was attacked by a great white shark during their J-Bay Open final in 2015.
Wilson famously paddled towards Fanning without regard for his own safety, believing his mate may have been taken by the shark.
While he wrote yesterday’s scare off when interviewed shortly after leaving the water, Sunshine Coast surfer Wilson took to Twitter to thank World Surf League officials for acting so swiftly.
“A massive thank you to @wsl for the quick response out in the water,” said Wilson, who also posted a picture of himself with Mick Fanning. “Happy everyone is safe.” In an interview shortly after leaving the water, Wilson said the incident would not dredge up feelings from two years ago.
“It doesn’t. The first thing I think about is family, my wife, people that are close to me,” Wilson said.
“I want to just think about them, make sure they’re OK and know that I’m fine. For me, it’s just going out there and doing what I love and I’ll always do it and enjoy it.”
The Round 4 heat pitched three surfers that had all scored perfect 10-point rides together in a super-contest and Wilson said he had thoughts only about the incredible conditions.
“I was so damn excited just being out there and having some opportunities to have some really good scores and really good waves,” he said.
“It was the furthest thing from my mind anything like this happening.”
It was another shark scare for Toledo, who also had to exit the water at Western Australia’s Margaret River Pro earlier this year. “Second time this year but glad to be here,” Toledo said. “The team worked good, they saw a big fish or shark spinning, it was a crazy situation but the skis came really fast to us and we jumped on the skis.”
According to officials, the shark spotting was part of an overall uptick in feeding activity that is being monitored at Jeffreys Bay.
Fanning remains in contention for a fifth J-Bay title but faces a knockout Round 5 clash against Frenchman Joan Duru after Frederico Morais won an enthralling non-elimination contest against Fanning and defending world champion John John Florence.