Within hours of three-time world champion Mick Fanning escaping a shark attack, the internet did what it did best: produce memes about the terrifying incident.
There was an initial outpouring of sympathy and shock on social media after the Australian professional surfer tangled with the animal during the final of the ASP world tour event at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa.
But this soon evolved into a mixture of pride, punning, Photoshopping after Fanning and his fans and his poor mother had recovered sufficiently from an incident – broadcast live – that could have ended very differently.
Fanning told how he “punched it in the back”, providing ample material for everyone to work with.
Sobre o @Mick_Fanning hoje kkk pic.twitter.com/ZSuwz1lcRW
— Lucas Castelar (@l_castelar) July 19, 2015
@Mick_Fanning #LikeABoss #Brave @wsl (No animals were harmed in this meme)💛😜 pic.twitter.com/YeHxLIqFEZ
— charli robinson (@Charli_Robinson) July 19, 2015
Continuing the long Australian tradition of punching things. Crazy stuff! #mickfanning #thuglife pic.twitter.com/lfXXyjwmky
— Shaun (@SpeddyMan) July 20, 2015
Others were quick to point out Fanning’s other qualities amid a growing sense of relief that the former champion from Tweed Heads, New South Wales, had survived unscathed.
#mickfanning #sharkwhisperer #straya pic.twitter.com/aEPEQYmaxk
— Daniel Mitchell (@punkologist) July 19, 2015
There is only one thing #MickFanning says to sharks: pic.twitter.com/RWVjNUbtUP
— Sam Spettigue (@ninjaspag) July 19, 2015
Bloody show-offs these Aussie's #mickfanning #sharkattack #surfing pic.twitter.com/vgnm8agRWb
— Bob Connor (@EnglishBob1) July 19, 2015
But there’s always more than one side to a story, and some started to consider the other party in this terribly unfortunate affair. Perhaps the shark was misunderstood?
#mickfanning #australianlegend we breed em tough down here Mick 1 - Shark 0 pic.twitter.com/6ozn4pRL46
— Jacie Anderson (@mrsjanderson) July 20, 2015
#Breaking @Mick_Fanning charged with assault in SA following confrontation with local, claims he was hit 1st pic.twitter.com/KaqXGu1jQC
— Steven Heaton (@Heaton_Steven) July 20, 2015
Don't you hate it when your food tries to beat you up. #JBayOpen
— JBay Shark (@JbayShark) July 19, 2015
There was also the inevitable Jaws-based offering.
@MGMaherSEN Just Not On Andy #mickfanning pic.twitter.com/lksPXW2U9J
— Nathan Hand (@HandiMan23) July 20, 2015
And there is always space to riff off Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy character in Anchorman.
A pro surfer fought off a great white shark during a competition yesterday. http://t.co/PpAv3QnFnn #mickfanning pic.twitter.com/B33H3Ex1sp
— Ashley Maier (@ashleymaier) July 19, 2015
Even a little dark humour crept in.
@Mick_Fanning Too soon? #mickfanning pic.twitter.com/x9i4qL7odw
— Rachael Schweizer (@RachSchweizer) July 19, 2015
