The mothers of Australian surfers Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson have paid emotional tributes to their sons after this year's dramatic shark attack.
Fanning and Wilson were jointly awarded the spirit of sport award at the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame on Wednesday night in Melbourne.
The two surfing stars were competing in the final of the world tour event at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa three months ago when a shark attacked Fanning.
He punched the shark as it knocked him off his board and Wilson paddled over to see if he could help.
The pair were hailed for their bravery.
Fanning and Wilson are in Portugal for the next tour event and so Elizabeth Osborne and Nola Wilson accepted the awards on their behalf.
Fanning and Wilson were also finalists for The Don award, which was won by golfer Jason Day.
Osborne was watching the event on live television when she saw the shark attack her son.
"Julian got the first wave, he did beautifully and then the shark came," she said.
"I stood up, went over to the television and actually wanted to pull him out.
"I was just numb that this was actually happening to my son and I really thought we'd lost him.
"I thought maybe the universe can't be that cruel - and so he survived."
Osborne thanked Wilson for his instinctive bravery.
"Julian, who is a really good friend of Mick's, was so brave and actually came towards Mick to try to help him," she said.
Nola Wilson said her son's bravery was nothing more than she expected.
"But he was terrified when that wave came up between them," she said.
"He expected to come over and see Mick gone - I don't think you can really explain how you feel."
Nola then read a short speech, saying she felt uncomfortable accepting the award on behalf of her son.
"Fair play, good sportsmanship, integrity and camaraderie - at the end of the day, (they) are what really count," she said.
She added Wilson and his brothers befriended former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden when they were children.
"Matt also taught them that you need 'bottle' to get anywhere," she said.
The highest compliment came from a family friend, who she described as a skilled water man.
She said he rang them and said: "Julian is the sort of bloke I would want in the trenches with me - that is what makes us proud".
