Australian surfer Mick Fanning survived a shark attack while he was competing at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa at the weekend.

The incident, which was caught live on TV, occurred during the world tour event final, also involving fellow Australian Julian Wilson.

Fanning was across his board when the attack occurred, but he came out of it unscathed after he "punched" the shark in the back.

"I was just sitting there and I felt something just get stuck in my leg rope, and I was kicking, trying to get it away," Fanning told reporters. "I was just about to start moving and then I felt something grab [and] get stuck in my leg rope.

"I instantly just jumped away and it just kept coming at my board. I was just started kicking and screaming. Wow. I just saw fin, I didn't see the teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming."

The event was cancelled and the prize money was split between Fanning, who is a three-time world champion, and Wilson.