A diver who had his arm and part of a leg torn off by a 700-pound white shark relived the terror of the attack.
45-year-old Paul DeGelder was suffocated in his own blood after a predator pierced his 350 razor-like teeth in Sydney Harbor in February 2009. I died.
The former paratrooper from Melbourne, who became a bomb disposal diver for the Royal Australian Navy, was participating in a routine military exercise when he was attacked.
Remembering growing up in Australia - he says he was 'feared all his life' while growing up in Australia - he Daily Mai14} said: As any schoolboy knows, punch a shark in the eye.
"My right hand was attached to my leg by teeth, so that was the only option."
De Gelder tried to counterattack with his left hand, but the shark " "Like a rag doll," she said, beginning to shake him.
"When its teeth saw through my flesh and bones like saws, I was overwhelmed by unimaginable pain," he said.
"All the fighting went away from me, and I began to choke on bloody water as the 700-pound behemoth began to pull me down." said he resigned himself to the fact that he was dying when the shark suddenly released him and swam away. believes a shark mistook him for another sea creature because of the black wetsuit and flippers he wore
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35}Not knowing how long it would take for the blood to draw in other predators, the diver lifted his wounded arm out of the water and headed for the Navy's safety boat.
"When his teammates dragged me in, he had a look of terror on his face, so I joked like a soldier," he said.
"Then I closed my eyes and prepared to bleed to death." He said one person saved his life. Dry land doctors and nurses.
Paul de Gelder punched the shark in the eye, saying his "fighting instinct kicked in"
( Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The 45-year-old was discharged after nine weeks and joined the military after just six months, despite missing his right leg and part of his right arm. I have returned to training.
Looking back, Mr. De Gelder believes that the shark mistook him for another sea creature because of the black wet suit and rubber fins he was wearing that day. increase.
"Slamming the flipper into the water produced low-frequency sound waves thatsharks were tuned to, and probably attracted the bulls," he said. rice field.
"Because it was early in the morning and the water was cloudy and brown, the bull shark could not clearly see my silhouette and guess that I was not one of his. fish, dolphins, and even different sharks are customary food sources.”
Paul de Gelder is now a motivational speaker.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
He currently works as a motivational speaker and has published a book advocating for sharks.
"Shark attacks are rare and should be considered accidents rather than murders," he said.
"With the exception of shipwreck survivors, almost all shark attack victims are in the water, because the ocean is a magical place they love.
80} "Sharks are part of that magic, and we must always remember that we are guests at the shark's house."