Shakira: I had brush with death (From This Is Lancashire)

Shakira: I had brush with death

12:16pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2011

Shakira has revealed her brother saved her life after she was attacked by an angry sea lion.

The singer was enjoying a day at the beach during a holiday in Cape Town, South Africa when she spotted some "cute" seals and sea lions in the water.

She told fans on Facebook: "I decided to get a bit closer than all of the other tourists and went down to a rock trying to pet them doing a baby talk while taking pictures.

"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.

"Everyone there screamed, including me. I was paralysed 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."

Shakira, who managed to escape with just scratched hands and legs, reckons the sea lion mistook her shiny phone for a fish.

"It probably thought I was teasing it with food and then taking it away from it," she added.

The star soon got over her ordeal - the day after the scare she posted a snap of herself with some cute penguins and the caption: "Definitely friendlier!"