Mick Fanning: On grief, the shark attack that changed his life & moving forward

[gentle music] Mick Fanning doesn't really need an introduction. The three-time surfing world champion famously survived that shark attack live on TV, but he's also a very savvy businessman and entrepreneur. And there's a lesser-known side to Mick. He's been through an enormous amount of personal tragedy, losing his father and all three of his brothers. On the show today, Mick tells me what it's like living with that loss, how he copes, and why the moment he punched the shark changed his life forever. I hope you enjoy this chat with Mick. Mick Fanning, welcome to Fascinated.

How are you, Jackie?

Look, I'm well. Hey, I read that your dream life nowadays is just to be a fat, old, retired surfer. Is that true?

[laughs] Probably not the fat part. I try and, uh, look somewhat skinny, but, uh, [laughs] yeah, no, at my... I, you know, I, I just want to, uh, run around with the kids and, and just go surfing and just have a lot of fun.

Every day, do you look at your life on so many levels and just think, "How did I get here?"

Oh, every day. Um, you know, I sort of look at all the different chapters in my life and, um, yeah, look, there's so many sliding doors moments to end up where I am. Um, but yeah, look, even as a young kid when I decided to become a pro surfer, it's like I wouldn't have dreamt of all the things that I've, uh, been able to do and been a part of and got to experience. It's, um, yeah, it's been an incredible journey.

Why did you wanna put it all down? Why did you wanna write a book?

Um, I didn't wanna write a book. [laughs] Um, it was, uh-

[laughs] But you did. [laughs]

I did. Um, yeah, it all comes out in that first chapter where, um, yeah, I went and saw the medium and, um, you know, Shaun, my brother, actually came through, and he was the one saying I had to write a book. So, um, this is where we are today.

And he is such a central part of your life and your story, your relationship with him, his death. And c- can we g- w- we'll start there then, um, with that. And being so young and losing someone that was so loved and pivotal i- in your life, that really has defined everything that you've done after?

Yeah, definitely. Yeah, it was something that, um, you know, as, as a young kid, you're, um, extremely, I guess, influenced by different things. And, and Shaun was that guy that I just followed everywhere, you know? I... He was, like, the, the core nucleus of, of our group and, um, you know, if he asked for anything, I was like, "Yeah, I'll do it. I'll do it." Um, and, and then to have him unfortunately taken away was like, "All right, well, what's now?" Like, "Who am I gonna follow?" And I had to, um, take that lead myself and... But always felt like he was, he was with me and always, um, guiding me in different ways. But yeah, you just, just never know. Um, and I think that's part of where the, when he showed up in the medium, like, I'll, I've always had those questions, and I'm sure a lot of people do, where, you know, I wonder if they're here, I wonder if they're not. And, um, you know, for him to relay the things that he said in, in that, uh, sitting was, um, very, um, I guess comforting, but also confronting. Um, but yeah, for me it