Fanning donates payment to mauled surfer

Mick Fanning has donated his $75,000 payment for a television interview to a Gold Coast surfer mauled by a shark last month.
Fanning had a close encounter with what was believed to be a great white at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa two weeks ago, but emerged unscathed.
⢠âI was waiting for the teethâ: Mick FanningÂ
⢠Fanning saves surfing from the jaws of defeat
Mathew Lee was not as lucky when bodyboarding at Ballina on July 2.
A white-pointer savagely mauled the 32-year-oldâs legs and he remains at Gold Coast University Hospital, having undergone multiple surgeries.
Now it has emerged that Fanning gave Lee his $75,000 fee from a 60 Minutes interview which aired on Sunday,
Nine CEO David Gyngell said he would donate another $25,000 to help pay for Leeâs treatment.
Leeâs family posted their thanks on Facebook.
âMick Fanning and David Gyngell,â the family wrote. âNo words can describe how grateful we are for the generous donation.â
Fanning revealed during the interview that he would seek professional help to overcome the trauma of his own brush with a shark.
âI guess when something like this happens, youâre in your own mind, and your mind can play tricks on you,â Fanning said.
âYour mind can ⌠turn shadows into demons, or stuff like that.
âAnd then you sort of have, like, different self-doubts, and like, why did I get away with that? Iâm going to seek help, for sure. I think itâs the only way to deal with it.â








