Surfing champion Mike Fanning made headlines after he encountered a shark during a competition in South Africa, where he luckily escaped without getting injured.

Broadcast video, which went viral online, showed Fanning's close encounter with a shark at Jeffreys Bay during the final of the World Surf League.

Fanning bravely punched the shark and used his board to prevent the shark from getting close to him until the rescue team pulled him from the water, ending the horrifying scene during the competition.

While he is physically fine after preventing the shark from hurting him, Fanning admitted that he has yet to recover mentally after also watching the videos of the shark attack.

"I've watched it so many times. It's surreal watching it play out. It's like, did that really happen to me," Fanning said in an interview with Red Bull, his principal sponsor. "I just can't believe I've come through this completely unscathed physically. Mentally I'm a bloody mess, but I'll come good in time."

One of the scariest part was when Fanning suddenly disappeared from the scene. He said, though, that it was when he was already battling the shark, hitting it with his fist and board.

"The craziest moment actually unfolded when I got knocked off my board and disappeared behind the set wave," Fanning revealed. "The thing started thrashing around me, you can see the water splashing, and that's when I was hitting it."

Fanning also knows what his friends and family felt because he knows they were watching the competition live, which is making his mental recovery even harder.

"Thinking about this playing out on a live broadcast with my family and friends and people that support me all watching is something I'm still processing," Fanning added. "That's one of the scariest factors, and what really gets me emotional."

The World Surf League also issued a statement, where they expressed relief Fanning survived the shark attack. The organizers also praised the three-time world champion for his composure and the way he handled the situation. The World Surf League also commended the rescue team for their quick response.

The incident also led to the cancellation of the J-Bay Open. Fanning agreed to split the prize with fellow finalist Julian Wilson, who also made an effort to help his competitor during the incident.

Watch the video of the shark attack below.