Paul de Gelder Shark Attack

Paul de Gelder, a former Australia — Royal Australian Navy diver, was attacked by a bull shark in Australia — Port Jackson in February 2009 during a routine training drill. He lost a hand and a leg in the eight-second ordeal. His survival was attributed to his military composure and the quick actions of a Navy team member who stemmed his arterial bleeding. Despite the severe injuries, Paul de Gelder spent nine weeks in hospital and returned to military training six months later. Since 2012, he has become an inspirational speaker, advocating for the ecological importance of sharks, a creature he once feared.