There was no blood shed at the J Open in South Africa but those images of Aussie Mick Fanning and that shark were blood curling.
The first thing that came to mind after the relief that Fanning wasn't hurt (and he handled the situation with great aplomb) was the fact that Aussies seem to be unable to escape the association with sharks even outside of their own waters. People curious about Australia always ask me a couple of guaranteed questions: how long does it take to get to Australia, what's it like and of course, is it true what they say about Australian beaches and sharks?
My answers change all the time depending on who asks. ;)
A round up of statistics on shark attacks, Fanning's extraordinary efforts and the story of his mother who was watching her son on TV, horrified when that moment struck and that shark fin appeared on her screen right next to her son here.