Sydney FC striker Shane Smeltz has sent his best wishes to surfing star Mick Fanning, praising his former school mate's bravery after a potentially deadly brush with a shark in South Africa.
Smeltz, a New Zealand World Cup international and one of the greatest ever goalscorers in the Hyundai A-League, went to High School with Fanning on Australia's Gold Coast at Palm Beach Curumbin High School (PBC).
Like millions around the world, Smeltz was shocked to see the footage of Fanning’s brush with a shark at a World Surf League Final in South Africa on Sunday.
Fanning attacked by Shark on live tv
But after growing up with Fanning at school on the Gold Coast, Smeltz, 33, felt certain the surfing superstar would bounce back from the incident.
“From me obviously thoughts go out to him and still do. I’m sure he was pretty shaken up about it," Smeltz told www.a-league.com.au at Tuesday's launch of Sydney FC's new Puma kit.
“I saw in on Twitter but it’s not until you see the footage how serious it is.
But knowing Mick,” Smeltz said with a wry smile. “It doesn’t surprise me, he is a real fighter and I know what he was like at school.
“And he’s certainly go on with it in his career.
"He certainly gave that shark a bit of a lesson,” the Sydney FC star said with a smile.
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Smeltz hasn’t contacted Fanning as the surfer as he says would’ve been inundated with messages of support.
“It’s a scary moment but I probably will send a message to him. I thank God he came out of it unscathed.
“I think already you can sense with him he feels blessed doesn’t he. You can sense that from his reaction. He’s got a family and he knows how important life is.
“But knowing Mick as much as he loves surfing I’m sure he’ll be back out there.”
And if Fanning’s sporting career hadn’t taken a turn towards surfing, he may well of being a team-mate or opponent of Smeltz’s in the Hyundai A-League.
“He loves his football. I remember back in school Years 9 and 10 he was in the school team and he loves it, but obviously surfing took over but he loved football," added Smeltz.