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Fanning donates TV fee to fellow Aussie shark attack survivor

Xinhua, August 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

An Australian professional surfer who fought off a great white shark while competing in South Africa last month has donated his television appearance fee to a fellow great white shark attack survivor.

The three-time world champion Mick Fanning from Queensland reportedly donated his 75,000-Australian dollar (54,752 U.S. dollar) television appearance fee to fellow surfer Mathew Lee who was mauled by a great white shark on the northern New South Wales coast last month after recording an exclusive interview for local broadcaster Channel Nine.

Lee remains at the Gold Coast University Hospital after undergoing surgery on both legs after being mauled by a shark up to four meters long - according to eyewitness accounts - while body-boarding on the notorious coastal stretch, local media reported on Monday.

Fanning captivated global audiences after fighting off a suspected four-to-five meter great white shark during the final round of the Jeffreys Bay professional surfing event in South Africa last month, miraculously walking away unscathed. Fanning's ordeal was broadcast live at the time.

Channel Nine boss David Gyngell has also pledged a further 25, 000 Australian dollars (18.246 U.S. dollars) to Lee for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation, local media reported.

Fanning was hoping to visit Lee at his hospital bed for the program, however the meeting did not materialize as Lee underwent further surgery.

Craig Ison, another surfer who was attacked by a shark in the same area as Lee on Friday remains in an induced coma at the Gold Coast University Hospital following complications during his initial surgery.

During the exclusive interview, broadcast on Sunday night, Fanning revealed he is seeking professional help to overcome the traumatic event in South Africa.

"I guess when something like this happens, you're in your own mind, and your mind can play tricks on you," Fanning said. "Your mind can ... turn shadows into demons, or stuff like that.

"And then you sort of have, like, different self-doubts, and like, why did I get away with that?

"I'm going to seek help, for sure. I think it's the only way to deal with it."

During his first surf back in the water, filmed for the exclusive television interview, the 34-year-old claimed he had another close call, spotting a fin while in the water off the New South Wales coast.

"We were sitting on there and then we sort of looked and we just saw a tiny little fin," Fanning said back on the beach.

"You wouldn't believe it yeah, I swear to God ... it was a full shark, hey." Endi