A pro surfer is being hailed for his bravery after paddling towards a great white shark — with plans to stab it — as it attacked former world champ Mick Fanning on Sunday.
Julian Wilson was competing against Fanning in the final of the J-Bay Open when the predator appeared off South Africa's coast — an incident captured on live TV.
Wilson launched into action to save his friend and Australian countryman.
"It came up and he was wrestling it, and I saw he got knocked off his board,” Wilson said through tears in an emotional interview with the World Surf League.
“I was like, 'I’ve got a board, if I can get there I can stab it or whatever. I’ve got a weapon.'"
Fanning survived the incident unharmed, and the pair were whisked to safety by safety crews in the water.