Australian Man Recalls His Near-Death Experience with a Shark and How It Changed His Life

Last Update:23 November 2024 13:23 IST

Australian Navy sailor Paul de Gelder was attacked by a shark and had his right hand and leg torn off.

The man became a motivational speaker after the incident.

The world beyond the sea may seem familiar, but the world beneath its surface can be truly terrifying. In movies or TV series, the underwater world is often depicted as a beautiful place full of creatures. But it also hides dangers such as sharks, one of the most feared of all. A few years ago an Australian man experienced this terrifying scene. While exploring the sea, he suddenly felt a strong grip on his leg. When he looked around he was shocked to see that it was nothing but a shark. Paul de Gelder, 47, is a bomb disposal diver with the Australian Navy, according to the Daily Star News website. In 2009, he was on routine work-related exercises in Sydney Harbor and his team was testing new counter-terrorism equipment. He was on his first swimming lap and that’s when he was attacked.

When Paul looked back, he was shocked to see the sight. In front of him was a huge bull shark. It was at least 9 feet long. Before he could do anything, the shark attacked and grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards itself. Paul attacked his eyes and nose several times, but nothing worked. The shark was constantly pulling his hands and legs with it.

For a moment he thought he wouldn’t be able to do this. He started thinking about his life and how happy he was. If this was his last day, he felt it was okay. However, the shark suddenly let go of its leg and disappeared into the water. Without wasting any time, he started swimming as fast as he could. However, the rescue team reached him and pulled him out of the water safely.

The incident changed Paul’s life. While his right hand was lost in the water, his right leg was also seriously injured. Doctors had no choice but to amputate his leg. He remained in hospital for nine weeks. At this time, he thought about taking revenge on the shark, but he realized that it was not the shark’s fault, but the natural instincts he was following. This realization changed his life. She became a vegetarian, a motivational speaker, and worked for animal protection. He now works to protect marine life, including sharks, and has gone diving with them many times since the attack. Paul left the Navy in 2012 and moved on to new assignments. Today, he is not only a motivational speaker but also an environmentalist, traveler and gym enthusiast who inspires people around the world with his story.