Death gives Fanning ‘flutters’

SURFING legend Mick Fanning has said he got “flutters” after hearing that a man had been killed by a great white shark at a Sydney beach.

Diving instructor Simon Nellist was killed on Wednesday when he was attacked in Sydney’s Little Bay.

The 35-year-old British man, who was about to be married, became the first person to be killed by a shark in Sydney in almost 60 years.

Three-time world champion surfer Fanning, who famously survived a shark attack in South Africa, said it was “terrifying” and he tried to steer clear of footage of the horrific attack.

“We know the power of sharks … I’m just really sad for the family and the friends of the man,” Fanning told Channel 9’s Today.

When questioned if it brought back anything for him, he said he got “flutters”.

“I did a lot of work when it all first happened, so I’m personally fine, but yeah, you definitely get things run through your mind,” he said.

Fanning punched the shark as it lunged at him while he was competing at the J-Bay Open finals at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa in 2015.

He then tried to wedge his board between the predator and his body, with the shark eventually biting off Fanning’s leash, prompting him to swim to safety.

Mr Nellist was 150m away from the beach at Buchan Point, near Little Bay, in Sydney, when the shark struck.