![South Africa Surfer Shark Attack Australian surfer Mick Flanning is pursued by a shark, in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa on July 19, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/mick-fanning-shark-attack1.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
By NBC News
The mother of three-time world champion surfer Mick Fanning revealed Monday that “time stood still” as she watched live TV coverage of her son being attacked by a shark.
Elizabeth Osborne saw her son punch the predator in its back after the shark grabbed his foot rope and pulled him underwater.
“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Osborne told NBC News’ Australian partner Channel 7, after the incident at the J-Bay Open in South Africa on Sunday.
“I saw this big fin, and Mick scrambling and turning around,” she said. “And then he went down and I realized then…
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