Survival instinct helped Mick Fanning during shark attack: Layne Beachley

• Mick Fanning attacked by shark
• Surfers react with shock
• I thought we'd lost him: mother
• Fanning's friend Julian Wilson hailed as hero

​Australian surfing champion Layne Beachley says Mick Fanning is "very fortunate" to be alive following his shark attack at South Africa's Jeffreys Bay.

Fanning was attacked by a great white while competing against compatriot Julian Wilson in Sunday's final of the J-Bay Open but fought off the shark by punching it in the back.

"Mick had the survival mechanism to punch the shark to keep himself alive," Beachley told the Nine Network on Monday morning.

"He's very fortunate. No one in their wildest dreams would think this would happen.

The moment a huge shark launches at Australian surfer Mick Fanning, who escaped without injury after he "punched him in the back". Credit: World Surf League

"It's natural to have so much adrenaline in your body, [and] once that is drained out to go into complete shock."

Beachley, a seven-time world champion, said she had never even seen a shark let alone been attacked by one during her decades in the water.

"I've been surfing for more than 40 years, I have never seen a shark or been intimidated by a shark - intimidated by dolphins and whales, but not sharks," she said.

The 43-year-old said she didn't expect World Surfing League organisers to cop any heat over the incident because everybody knows Jeffreys Bay is a "sharky environment".

Layne Beachley says asking for help got her through the lows and helped her achieve plenty of highs. Credit: Quentin Jones

"When we go into this environment we understand that this could potentially happen. That's why they had the boats in the water patrol there to keep them safe.

"We have never seen this, this is unprecedented.

"Taj Burrow had a shark encounter - we never actually saw the shark - this is the first time in the history of surfing and competitive sport we have seen a shark attack a competitor in the line-up."

AAP