A Life Transformed by a Shark Attack
February 11, 2009, started like any other day for Paul de Gelder. As part of a military operation in Sydney Harbour, he was submerged in the water when he felt a sudden impact on his leg. It was the jaws of a bull shark, an encounter that would change his life forever.
‘I thought the guys on the boat got too close to me but I looked down and there’s a massive shark’s head attached to my leg,’ Paul recalls. ‘I’m thinking, “I’ve seen Shark Week, I’ll jab it in the eye,” but I can’t move my arm. I look down and my hand is trapped in the shark’s mouth as well as my leg. I grab it by the nose, try to push it off me but it decides that I’m breakfast, thrashes me around, takes me underwater and the pain is so all encompassing it takes the fight out of me. I was drowning in agony, being eaten alive and I realized there was nothing I could do, so I gave up.’
The attack left Paul with severe injuries, including the loss of his hamstring and hand. His wetsuit kept him afloat, and to his surprise, he survived the encounter. ‘My medical training kicked in. I kept the wound above my head and swam back with one hand and one functioning leg through a massive pool of my own blood.’
After hours in the hospital, Paul was relieved to find his leg was still attached. However, the trauma continued as he underwent surgery and endured intense pain. The incident, captured on film, became a viral sensation, with the entire attack lasting just eight seconds.
From Victim to Advocate
Despite the horror, Paul’s life took an unexpected turn. Sixteen years later, he has become one of the world’s leading shark conservationists, dedicating himself to protecting the very creature that nearly killed him. His journey includes speaking engagements, media appearances, and working with celebrities to raise awareness about sharks.
Paul’s determination to rebrand sharks has taken him across the globe. A pivotal moment came when Australia’s 60 Minutes interviewed him with a question: ‘Would you be willing to face bull sharks again?’ He agreed, flying to Fiji to swim with them. ‘They wanted tears but I gave them excitement and ended up feeding the bulls.’
He also appeared in a new show for Shark Week, How To Survive A Shark Attack, where he humorously mentioned having to be attacked multiple times. Paul has worked with A-list stars like Will Smith and Mike Tyson, helping them understand the importance of shark conservation.
A New Reality TV Series
In a recent reality TV series, ITV’s Sharks! Celebrity Infested Waters, Paul helped British celebrities such as Sir Lenny Henry and Rachel Riley confront their fears by swimming with tiger sharks. The show, marking the 50th anniversary of Jaws, highlights the plight of sharks and the need for their protection.
Stephen Spielberg’s 1975 classic Jaws has instilled a deep fear of sharks in many people, even those who rarely face real danger. This fear is shared by many, despite the rarity of fatal shark attacks. Helen George, known for Call The Midwife, had been too afraid to even put her head underwater for 20 years before participating in the show.
Adam Miller, a columnist, described the show as a surprising and moving experience. He noted the camaraderie among the celebrities and the growth they experienced during the filming. ‘It’s refreshing and actually quite a bold move not to have any contest running through the show, but it pays off.’
The Message Behind the Show
Paul emphasizes the underlying message of the show. ‘The show is really touching. It has all the emotions—fear, anxiety, happiness. Every spectrum of human emotion is there, but it has an underlying message too. It’s about the plight of sharks.’
He explains that people are killing sharks for fun, pushing them closer to extinction. ‘If the sharks die, the ocean dies and we die. We’re trying to get celebrities and the viewers to fall in love with sharks—which, granted, is hard because they keep biting people.’
Paul’s journey from victim to advocate is remarkable. He reflects on how the attack gave him a new perspective on life. ‘Coming close to death gave me freedom in life. It really opened my mindset to becoming even more unlimited in what I want to do in this world and with my life.’
A Life Worth Living
When asked if he imagines a different life without the attack, Paul says, ‘I do to a very small degree. I wouldn’t change it—there’s no reason for me to change it. I don’t know who that guy is because my life went this way, and I love my life.’
He lives in America, enjoys meeting famous figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and travels the world sharing his story. ‘I get paid to travel the world, have adventures, and inspire people. What’s not to love about that?’
Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters is available to stream on ITVX. If you have a celebrity story or video, you can share it with the entertainment team by emailing [email protected] or visiting the Submit Stuff page. For updates on your favorite TV shows, sign up for the TV newsletters.
