VIDEO: Three Time World Champion Surfer Attacked by Shark

SOUTH AFRICA- Professional surfer Mick Fanning is an incredibly lucky man.

While taking part in the World Surf League's J-Bay Open in South Africa, he came into the cross hairs of a shark on the prowl.

The video above shows the tense moments as fanning tries to fend of his marine attacker and stay on top of his board.

In the video fanning explains that he felt something get stuck in his board's leash and he tried to get it away.

"I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me. I punched it in the back," he added.

Fortunately, fanning escaped unharmed. His boards leash appears to have been the only casualty in the attack.

The Australia native, is a three time world champion and was the defending champion of this completion.