A screen shot from video footage shows Australian surfer Mick Fanning being followed by a shark during the final of the J-Bay Surf Open on Sunday in Jeffreys Bay. Picture: AFP PHOTO

SYDNEY — Surf star Mick Fanning said on Thursday he will only compete part-time this year after a traumatic 2015 in which he survived a shark attack and had to deal with the death of his brother as he narrowly missed out on a fourth world crown.

The Australian said he would contest the first two world tour events in Australia before skipping others throughout the year as he takes a breather after his emotional roller-coaster season. But he confirmed he would return to Jeffreys Bay in SA where he was attacked during competition by a great white shark on live TV last July, making headlines around the globe.

The 34-year-old survived unscathed, but it rattled him. He overcame his fears and got back into the water to stay in the title race, pushing it to the season-ending Pipe Masters in Hawaii where, as he prepared to surf for a fourth world crown, he learnt that his brother Peter had died suddenly.

Fanning, who also separated from his wife last year, narrowly missed out to Brazilian Adriano de Souza and said he would take time off this year to "regroup and re-stoke the fire".

"Last year was definitely intense — what happened at J-Bay, being in a title race and the unfortunate passing of my brother," Fanning said in a statement.

"There was so much build-up with everything happening. I got to a point at the end of the year where I felt empty. I didn’t feel like I had much to give back."

He said he had been thinking about a sabbatical for several years, but kept finding himself in title contention. "I’ve been in a title race for the last four years in a row. It takes a big toll on your mind and your body," he said, but added that "this is definitely not a retirement announcement".

AFP