In February 2009, Australian Navy former diver Paul de Gelder tasted the bitterness of death. During a routine anti-terrorism training exercise near Garden Island in Sydney Harbour, the then 31-year-old was attacked by a nine-foot bull shark, resulting in the loss of his right leg and part of his right arm.
Following the incident, de Gelder embarked on a months-long grueling recovery process and was fitted with prosthetics. He documented this emotional journey in his 2011 memoir, “No Time for Fear: How a Shark Attack Survivor Beat the Odds.”
After leaving the Navy the following year, de Gelder transitioned into a multi-talented motivational speaker, youth mentor, actor, and television personality, regularly hosting programs on the Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week.”
Since the publication of his debut, the 47-year-old veteran has authored several other books, including “Big Red Bruce: The Kangaroo Who Lost His Tail,” a children’s book released in July last year, described by de Gelder as “a story about acquired disabilities and how good friends decide to overcome challenges.”
Despite his extraordinary life story and impressive achievements, the humble Navy veteran maintains a modest demeanor.
“I don’t think anything I’ve done is particularly special,” he told Epoch Times in a recent interview. “We’ve all been through tough times, and my story isn’t any better, bigger, or more important than anyone else’s. It’s just a bit different, and when I speak on stage, I’ve learned how to spin it well and weave life lessons into it,” he said, referring to the numerous keynote speeches he delivers worldwide.
“I just did what I needed to survive and live a good life,” he added.
Prior to his service in the Navy, now based in Los Angeles, de Gelder was a paratrooper in the Australian Army, where he learned the principles of “improvise, adapt, overcome”—an unofficial motto of the U.S. Marine Corps. De Gelder embodied this powerful motto as he worked to recover from the horrific injuries inflicted upon him.
Reflecting on the experience, he recalled, “As I lay in the hospital bed, looking at my missing leg and missing hand, I was terrified that I had lost my value, my purpose, my worth to anyone else, even my own value. It wasn’t an easy time, but in those very complex moments, I would try to remain stoic, examine my future options—good life or bad life? And then I’d come up from there, improvise, adapt, overcome.”
De Gelder credits part of his resilience after the shark attack to the confidence instilled in him during his military days.
“I was fortunate to work with the military and great leaders who instilled in me a confidence that my mind and body are stronger than I imagined,” he said.
However, he also believes that his turbulent youth helped shape the person he is today.
De Gelder referred to himself as a “wayward youth,” having dabbled in drugs and alcohol, transitioning from one job to another—from bartender in strip clubs to a rap artist, even serving as a bartender for chart-topping hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg.
“Some of the truly life-defining choices came after considering the massive mistakes and terrible choices I made in my youth,” he admitted. “I think the mistakes we make are also powerful tools that teach us how to do better on the current journey.”
Despite facing a harrowing encounter with one of the ocean’s apex predators, de Gelder has become a passionate advocate for shark conservation and will feature in several new programs airing during this year’s “Shark Week” starting on July 7.
The TV personality often speaks about the crucial role sharks play in maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem and the necessity of their protection. He released his books “SHARK—Why We Need to Save the World’s Most Misunderstood Predator” and “Uncaged: Soldier, Survivor, Shark Guy” in 2022.
Considering his initial fear of sharks before the attack, de Gelder’s transformation is remarkable. Recalling the motto he learned in the military, he explained that by understanding sharks better, he overcame his fear of these largely misunderstood ocean dwellers.
“Although I have been deeply afraid of sharks all my life, I’ve never really blamed the shark for everything they did to me,” he clarified. “I chose a fundamentally dangerous lifestyle where I could be killed or seriously injured in a million different ways, from skydiving to bombs, bullets, even my motorcycle,” he added. “At least the shark gave me a cool story that eventually led to a brand new, very exciting career.”
Fifteen years have passed since the terrifying shark attack, but de Gelder reiterated that the motto he learned in the military remains relevant today.
“The motto hasn’t changed; it’s just the challenges I and we all face that have changed. ‘Improvise, adapt, overcome’ is not just a life motto; it’s just one tool in the toolbox that can help us overcome obstacles we face every day,” he explained.
“If the obstacle lies in our relationships, perhaps we need to remember some other tools we can use, such as patience, understanding, and communication. Of course, it’s not as easy to remember, but these qualities ensure that we and the people around us lead a good life. After all, we are a community, and once we put all our attention on ourselves, we separate from that community. A team is always stronger and better than an individual.”
The original article “Paul de Gelder Shares Reflections on Life After Grisly Shark Attack” was published on the English Epoch Times website.