Oops: The Man The WSL left to the sharks!

Kelly Cestari, the WSL's own photographer, left to swim after Mick Fanning's attack… 

One thing you can’t fault the WSL for is candour. When Mick Fanning wrestled a White during the J-Bay Open final, WSL boats rushed to his and fellow finalist Julian Wilson’s rescue.

But, uh, they forgot someone, their own water photographer, the South African Kelly Cestari.

While Mick and Julian were swarmed over, their emotional health enquired about, and weepy interviews conducted, Cestari was left to swim in on his own.

It ain’t surprising. Hang out with famous athletes and their entourages enough and you’ll realise how unimportant everyone but the stars are. Everyone was too busy holding grails under Mick, trying to catch one of his tears, to remember the poor schlub employed to take the photos that are sent around the world every night.

But instead of covering up what could’ve turned into the most spectacular piece of forgetfulness in sports, ever, the WSL has posted an interview on their website talking, brightly, about the event.

The story is even called Unsung Hero, as if Cestari had waved off the jetski and boat.

Is heroism, therefore, being the man nobody can remember?

“The boats were gone so I needed to get in. But I actually hung around for like maybe a minute thinking the jetskis would come back to me. Once I realized they were going in, it was time for me to swim in,” says Cestari.  “All I can remember is that I didn’t want to cause too much splash, catching the swells as I was coming in. I was maybe 50 meters from shore so it was pretty quick until I was on rocks and mussels. Now thinking, “the shark’s not going to come towards shore.” It’s as freaked out as Mick, by the time I got to shore I was thinking, “I’m ok. I’m safe. I’m fine.” Thankfully everyone else was as well.” Once I got to shore I was pretty much staring at the boat going, “Is this actually happening?” After seeing Mick do the interview and break down, once I had gotten out of my wetsuit I had a few moments to think about it and that’s when I sort of started having a meltdown. Going through all the different scenarios that could have happened but thankfully didn’t.

“I phoned my wife because every time I go in the water I text her, “Look, I’m going in the water now,” and whenever I come out I say, “I’m out of the water.” Before I was in the water for the Final I sent her a message saying I’m going in. Her response was, “There’s sharks, please don’t go.” I think she got the message after everything had happened, but as soon as I came in I phoned her and was like, “I’m cool, I’m fine, I’m safe, taking care of everyone else.” I think it was about 20 minutes after that I phoned her again and had a little meltdown.

Read the rest here!