Australian surfer Mick Fanning shortly before being attacked by a shark. Photo / AFP PHOTO / WSL
Australian surfer Mick Fanning survived a shark attack on live TV overnight during a surfing contest in South Africa. The Herald looks at eight other shocking sporting moments caught live on TV.
1. Monica Seles stabbed in Hamburg in 1993
Kiwi surfer Ricardo Christie said "the ocean ain't no tennis court"
following Fanning's close encounter. Monica Seles may beg to differ. She was ranked world number one in women's tennis when she was playing Magdelenda Maleeva in the Citizen Cup. Seles, originally from the former republic of Yugoslavia, was just 19 and she was dominating grand slam tournaments. During a break in play Seles was stabbed in the neck by 38-year-old German man Gunter Parche, an obsessed fan of Steffi Graf. German police said the attack was not politically motivated.
2. 1989 World Series earthquake
It was game three of the World Series between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park but it was interrupted by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake just before it started - causing significant damage to the local area. Candlestick Park was badly damaged as pieces of concrete fell from top of the stadium which knocked out the power. The game was postponed and ABC's coverage cut just as you could hear TV broadcaster Al Michaels saying: "I'll tell you what. We're having an earth-". It was the first ever earthquake in the United States to be recorded live on TV.
3. Springbok fan attacks referee
Irishman Dave McHugh was refereeing the Tri-Nations test between South Africa and the All Blacks in Durban in 2002. It's fair to say that Peiter Van Zyl wasn't happy with the official's performance as he ran on to the field to attack McHugh. Richie McCaw was the first man on the scene to wrestle Van Zyl to the ground before he was dragged off by stewards. McHugh dislocated his shoulder and had to be replaced for the remainder of the match.
4. Eric Cantona karate kicks fan in Premier League in 1995
Manchester United's maverick striker was known to have a short fuse and a Crystal Palace fan made him explode. Cantona had been sent off in the Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park and as he was walking towards the tunnel, Palace fan Matthew Simons hurled abuse at the Frenchman and he retaliated - kung fu style.
5. Fan man interrupts Holyfield v Bowe II with parachute
Parachutist and paraglider James Miller - known as "fan man" - became famous for appearing at various sporting events. His first and most infamous stunt was for the rematch in the heavyweight title fight between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield in 1993.
Miller circled Caesars Palace before swooping down towards the ring during the seventh round. The lines of his paraglider became tangled in some overhead lights and he landed just by the ring. Spectators didn't find his stunt too amusing as Miller was swarmed and knocked unconscious by attackers.
6. Zidane headbutts Materazzi in 2006 World Cup final
Zinedine Zidane had come out of retirement to guide France to the World Cup final in Berlin and only Italy stood in his way of achieving football immortality. The scores were level at 1-1 in the second half of extra time when Zidane and Italian defender Marco Materazzi exchanged heated words away from everyone's eye.
Materazzi later revealed that he insulted Zidane's sister which brought about his brutal retaliation - a headbutt to the chest and his career ended in disgrace. Italy were crowned world champions after winning on penalties.
7. Mike Tyson bites Evander Holyfield's ear
The 1997 rematch for the WBA Heavyweight Championship of the world became infamously known as "The Bite Fight". Tyson was struggling in the third round as Holyfield was dominating the early stages of the fight.
The pair were clinched together when Tyson bit off a small piece of Holyfield's ear before spitting it on the floor. He was disqualified and his boxing license was revoked.
8. Wendell Sailor breaks Ben Ross's arm
This obviously wasn't the plan. Former NRL player Ben Ross broke his arm during the Footy Show last night during an arm-wrestle with Wendell Sailor.
The two were taking part in a regular battle of strength segment. It wasn't long into the arm-wrestle when there was a snap and Ross, who played 173 NRL games in a decade long career, was in obvious pain.
"Medical, we need medical," host Beau Ryan said. "All right listen.... we'll go to a break all right we'll come back after this', host Paul 'Fatty' Vautin added.
The Footy Show later tweeted to say that Ross had broken his humerus but wanted a rematch with his other arm.