VIDEO: World surfing champion and shark attack survivor returns to his roots in Inishowen

A three-time world surfing champion who was famously attacked by a shark, Mick Fanning is the son of an Inishowen man who recently returned to his roots.

Mick's father John is originally from Malin Head - and while on a year sabbatical from his World Tour with Rip Curl, he returns to Irish shores to get back to basics.

While on a tour of Donegal's surfing hotspots, he faces a crossroads in his life and career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSYRFIia9F0&feature=youtu.be

In 2015, the Australian surfer was famously attacked by a shark.

Fanning was a finalist in the J-Bay Open in South African on Sunday when the shark struck.

As Fanning waited for his first wave of the final, a fin surfaced behind him.

“I just had this instinct that something was behind me,” he told the World Surf League website.

"I felt like I started getting pulled under water. Then the [shark] came up, and I was on my board and it was like right there, and I saw the whole thing thrashing around," he recalled.

“I was getting dragged under by my leg [rope], and then I felt like it kicked me off, but it was still there, and I was still attached to my board. I felt like it was dragging me under water, and then my leg rope broke, and I started swimming and screaming.”

Rescue services dashes to the scene and he was taken to safety.