Surfing photographer reacts to being left in water with shark

HE was just 150 metres away from Mick Fanning when he saw a giant fin pop out of the water — his incredible reaction made him a hero.

Mick Fanning Arrives In Australia After Shark Attack

WHEN Mick Fanning encountered a three-and-a-half metre great white shark live on television during the final of world surfing tour event the J-Bay Open, the world was in shock.

Despite sharks posing a very real risk in the sport, few would ever suspect such an attack could happen in the circumstances it did.

Thankfully, due to the actions of Fanning, fellow surfer Julian Wilson and the competition’s rescue team, nobody was hurt in the terrifying ordeal. And with all the attention firmly focused on the surfers, it was easy to forget about the potential threat for others in the water — the competition photographers in particular.

Veteran surfing photographer Kelly Cestari was just 150 metres from Fanning when the shark initially surfaced. Despite his years of experience in South African waters, the Durban local found himself struggling to comprehend what was happening as the commotion began.

“From what I remember, I saw the initial splash, but because I was in the water I had a surfing ‘eye’ from what I was seeing. So I think there had been a wave and I was looking through it and I saw the initial splash and Mick spin around and then I saw the fin slap at him. It took a couple seconds for my brain to engage and it was like, ‘Ok what is going on?’,” Cestari told World Surf League.

The moment the fin of a great white shark surfaced behind world champion surfer Mick Fanning.

With a complete disregard for his own safety, Cestari yelled to the nearby jet-ski riders to get to the three-time world champion surfer immediately.

“As Giggs, the beach commentator, started screaming, ‘Get to Mick!’ I think I spun around to the boat and yelled, ‘Go get Mick, go get Mick’. The boats and the jet-skis had already taken off and were in full speed, which is their job, to get the guy in trouble,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a haze. I’m trying to figure out what was going through my head because I saw the splash and then a fin. I wasn’t sure if I was going something like, ‘Is this something I can get a photo of? Is this a photo we need? Is this something I should document?’ ”

In the rush to pull Fanning and Wilson from the water, the 35-year-old was left to get himself back to shore. It was at that point the photographer's instincts took over.

“I actually hung around for like maybe a minute thinking the jet-skis would come back to me. Once I realised they were going in, it was time for me to swim in,” he said.

As boats and jet-ski’s rushed to Fanning’s aid, Cestari was left to swim almost 50 metres back to shore.

Having already experienced a number of close encounters diving with sharks off the Durban coast, Cestari managed to keep himself calm enough to safely get out of the water.

“Where I live in Durban, we have a reef about an hour south where I’ve been free-diving with sharks before. Black tip reef sharks and Tiger sharks, and from the few times I’ve done that I learned not to panic, not to splash around, so I had a slow swim,” the photographer said.

“All I can remember is that I didn’t want to cause too much splash, catching the swells as I was coming in. I was maybe 50 metres from shore so it was pretty quick until I was on rocks and mussels. Now thinking, the shark’s not going to come towards shore. It’s as freaked out as Mick, by the time I got to shore I was thinking, I’m ok. I’m safe. I’m fine. Thankfully everyone else was as well.”

Cestari has been hailed a hero for his clarity and quick reaction.

Posting on social media after the incident, the photographer seemed relieved at how the terrifying incident had been resolved.

CAPTION: “What more can be said after today? Yes I was in the water and yes I am okay but it’s more I am SO happy Mick gets to tell the tale, a horrible story to relive but it’ll make for a good one after a few days. Whoever up there was looking after Mick, thanks. @mfanno @wsl #lexar #lexarmemory #1dx #sharkattacksurvivor #sharkweek #thankyou”

CAPTION: “It all happened about two minutes after Julian kicked out of this one wave ridden during the final. #jbay #jbayopen #sharkencounter #wsl #lexar #lexarmemory #jeffreysbay #supertubes #delmarhousingprojects”