Just when he thought it was safe to get back in the water, champion surfer Mick Fanning had an encounter with another shark.
The three-time ASP World Surfing Champion made international headlines recently after he bravely fought off a great white on live TV during the final the J-Bay Open at South Africa's Jeffrey's Bay.
As he came out of the water in a state of shock, the 34-year-old said he would be happy never to surf again.
But last weekend, he returned to the surf near his home in Tweeds Head, New South Wales to pay his respects to the late Andy Irons.
"First surf back. Feels so good. Surfed by myself but had Andy in my thoughts. Happy Birthday brother," he wrote in a caption to a photo he posted on Instagram.
Irons was an American professional surfer who died in November 2010 after a cardiac arrest.
It was later during filming of an episode of 60 Minutes for Australia's Channel 9 that he saw another shark. Fanning emerged from the waves saying he saw a fin. Later, reporter Pete Stefanovic and Fanning are seen looking out over the waves, pointing towards what appears to be a shark fin.
The surfer also gives a detailed account in the interview of his encounter with the great white.
It will be aired in Australia on Sunday night.
