Shark attack surfer: "It was me or the shark"

Only a day after he was attacked by a shark at an event in South Africa, champion surfer Mick Fanning spoke to CNN about his near-miraculous escape.

"All of a sudden, I sort of sensed something behind me. And then all of a sudden I just jumped on my board and I was, OK, something's going on."

“I felt myself getting dragged under by my leash,” a shaken-up Fanning told CNN’s David McKenzie. “Then next thing I know I saw his fin and went on my board and I guess it smacked me in the head.”

"I went again on my board, and it was like me or the shark."

“I think I tried to punch it. And then it started like dragging me under, dragging me by my leash, and I was like I don’t know what to do.”

“You never know, you’re just lucky. You just thank whatever gods are out there or whatever.”