Shark attack survivor's Northland link

Mick Fanning of Australia (pictured blue) is consoled by fellow competitor Kelly Slater after being attacked by a shark during the Final of the J-Bay Open. Photo/ World Surf League

A toothy encounter with a great white shark for three-time World Champion surfer Mick Fanning provided a sharp wake-up call for his first-cousin Mark Osborne, National's candidate in March's Northland byelection.

Fighting off an attack from a suspected great white shark while surfing with fellow Australian Julian Wilson in the J-Bay Pro final in South Africa, Fanning described the moment he noticed the shark was behind him as terrifying, saying: "I was waiting for the teeth to come at me."

Communicating with his aunty -- Fanning's mother -- Elizabeth Fanning via text yesterday, Mr Osborne said the event brought back tragic memories of the loss of Fanning's brother Sean, who passed away in a car accident in 1998.

"Speaking to my aunty, she was certainly shaken up. We're absolutely rapt he came through in one piece," Mr Osborne said. "She was just over the moon that he came away the way he did."

Mick Fanning's cousin Mark Osborne was National's candidate for the Northland byelection. Photo/ Claire Trevett

Fanning, 34, said he'd be happy never to compete again after the attack, but his manager was confident he'd be back for the next event. Fanning escaped without a scratch, but vivid video footage showed just how close he was to losing his life.

"I was just sitting there and I felt something grab or get stuck in my leg rope and I instantly just jumped away," said a badly shaken Fanning.

Mr Osborne, who works for Far North District Council, recalls visiting his pro-surfer cousin periodically throughout his youth, but the last time the two cousins reunited was at Fanning's wedding in 2008. Prior to that, Mr Osborne said the last time they met before the wedding was "unfortunately, at his brother's [Sean's] funeral".

Mr Osborne said when he saw video footage of his cousin fighting off the shark on TV he was amazed, but unsurprised at his tenacity and determination.

Though Fanning, also referred to on the World Tour as "White Lightning" for his electrifying speed, was clearly distraught over what could have been in the near-miss attack, Mr Osborne said Fanning boasted the qualities of an individual who'd dealt well with emotional trauma in the past.

"He's one of the strongest mental characters I know. [He's] just a top guy, the most down-to-earth person," he said.

While Fanning is yet to grace Northland's surf beaches, Mr Osborne said an open invitation lay waiting for the Australian surfing champ and hopefully the lure of "less sharks" might entice a visit.