The mother of Australian surfer Julian Wilson has spoken about her son's courageous actions during the Mick Fanning shark attack at the J-Bay Open surf competition in South Africa.
Julian, who was competing against Fanning, paddled towards the attacking great white shark to help his friend and fellow surfer.
"I don't know if he's crazy or a hero," Nola Wilson said.
"He just took off at a hundred-miles-an-hour straight for Mick."
A shaken Fanning said he'd be happy to "never compete again" after he incredibly emerged unscathed following the close encounter, which was broadcast live at the World Surf League (WSL) event's final at Jeffreys Bay on Sunday.
Nola however said surfers were `pretty resilient' and that there is always a risk when entering the surf.
"Every place they go to there are sharks - there are sharks across the road in Coolum - [but] I must admit we never even think about it or talk about it," she said.
"They all know the potential but I guess if you're worried about it you wouldn't be enjoying what you're doing."
Speaking through tears after the attack, an emotional Julian said at the time he was anxious he couldn't get to Fanning quick enough.
"It came up and he was wrestling it, and I saw he got knocked off his board," he said.
"I was like `I've got a board, if I can get there I can stab it or whatever, I've got a weapon'."
Watching from her home in Coolum, Nola said the actions taken by Julian were what she'd expect from her son.
"The skis and the boats hadn't got to Mick and Julian had the shark squarely set in his sights. Your mind's going to be thinking `that's my mate'."
Wilson's actions were hailed as heroic by Twitter users watching the final, which was abandoned in the wake of the frightening incident.
"Julian Wilson is real as hell for helping Mick fanning when he got attacked," one user wrote of the 26-year-old.
Another gave an "outstanding honourable mention to Julian Wilson WHO SWAM TOWARDS THE SHARK, to help Fanning out #bloodylegend".
"Loved how @julian_wilson paddled straight for the situation and not the beach. That's courage!" added another.
Meanwhile, Wilson and Fanning's surfing colleagues were quick to express their relief that the pair were alive and well after the dramatic video footage showed just how close the incident could have been to a tragedy.
"So so relieved @Mick_Fanning & @julian_wilson made it out of lineup unharmed after Mick was terrifyingly attacked by a shark at #JBayOpen," Sally Fitzgibbons posted.
Fellow Aussie Owen Wright was just "glad my friends are alive", while American star Lakey Peterson echoed many other surfers' sentiments that it as "truly one of the heaviest things I have ever seen".
Hawaiian surfer Coco Ho wrote: "COURAGEOUS is an understatement. Mad love and respect for these two."
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