'I was paralysed by fear': Shakira's brother saves her from over-zealous sea lion attack

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Shakira's brother saved her from a terrifying sea lion attack as she tried to take photos of the animal and it mistook her phone for a fish.

The popstar had been with a tour group and climbed down onto rocks to get closer to the mammal when it jumped out of the water and tried to bite her.

The 35-year-old said her brother Tony saved her life by jumping in front of her and helping her get away from the animal.

On a happier note: Singer Shakira pictured with penguins in Cape Town, South Africa after she was 'attacked' by a sea lion

The pair escaped with cuts to their hands and legs as they scrambled up the rockface.

The Hips Don't Lie singer took to her Facebook page to explain the terrifying ordeal to fans, and posted pictures of the seal lion and her injured hand.

In a piece titled 'Special Report: Attacked by a Sea Lion,' she explained: 'Suddenly, one of them jumped out of the water so fast and impetuously that it got about one foot away from me, looked me in the eye, roared in fury and tried to bite me.

The culprit: Shakira took photos of the sea lion before it jumped out of the water and attacked her

'Everyone there screamed, including me. I was paralyzed by fear and couldn't move, I just kept eye contact with it while my brother "Super Tony" jumped over me and literally saved my life, taking me away from the beast.'

She added: 'We both got our hands and legs scratched by the rocks while trying to protect ourselves. I believe what happened is that it confused the shiny reflection of the blackberry I was taking these pics with, with some sort of fish. It probably thought I was teasing it with food and then taking it away from it.'

Columbian Shakira, who is dating Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué, then visited penguins, posting a photo of her self wearing a colourful kaftan with the adorable creatures behind her.

The injuries: Shakira and her brother Tony escaped with cuts to their arms and legs as they scrambled to get away

Earlier, she had said: 'Wow! It's funny that only half an hour before I was complaining to my guide Andrew that I never get to see wild animals up close on adventurous trips. Oh well, I can't say that anymore!! Now I'm off to see some penguins! I hope they are a bit more friendly!'

She has posted several other photos on her Twitter account since the attack, including a baboon sitting on her car, saying the 'animal kingdom is revolutionized today!'

She also shared a photo of her and a friend at the Cape of Good Hope, on Cape Peninsula with the pair wearing massive jackets to protect them from the wind.

Shakira is still buzzing from receiving a French knighthood last month, before going on to collect the NRJ Award Of Honour in Cannes.

In her own words: Shakira posted this 'special report' on her Facebook page

And an excited Frederic Mitterand, the French Minister of Culture and Communication, was the lucky fellow to pin the honour on the singer.

But after securing the ribbon to her black and white minidress, he seemed to linger over the singer and take more than the necessary time needed to ease it into place.

Shakira took the attention in good humour at the ceremony to pick up the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of the Arts and Letters) for her contribution to music.

She was watched by her proud parents Nidia and William, Shakira accepted her medal from Mitterrand.

She's got the travel bug: The singer also shared this photo of her and a friend at the Cape of Good Hope, on Cape Peninsula

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2100877/Shakira-attacked-sea-lion-Singer-saved-brother-Tony-Cape-Town-South-Africa.html#ixzz1mS32i6Hv