Richard Branson urges against shark hunting following Mick Fanning attack

Virgin founder calls for sharks to be protected, not killed in retribution, following top surfer's amazing escape from an attack in South Africa

Sir Richard Branson has called for sharks to be protected rather than hunted down and killed in the wake of an attack on one of the world's leading surfers.

The billionaire entrepreneur called for restraint following Mick Fanning's encounter with a shark on the coast of South Africa, in which he fought it off by punching the predator on the back.