Posted on 05/11/2009 1:06:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A NAVY diver who lost a hand and a leg in a Sydney Harbour shark attack is back diving and walking, and says he wants to return to work at the scene of the attack.
Doctors said navy clearance diver Paul de Gelder was lucky to survive the mauling by a 2.7-metre bull shark off Garden Island Naval Base on February 11.
After seven weeks in hospital, Mr de Gelder says he is determined to put the experience behind him.
He is already walking with a prosthetic leg, driving high performance cars and confronting his fears head-on by swimming with sharks at an Manly's Oceanarium.
The extremely fit 31-year-old appeared comfortable examining graphic medical photographs of his injuries taken just before doctors decided to amputate his leg and hand.
Asked whether he planned on being a Navy clearance diver again, he said: "I do, I've never stopped''.
After five years as a clearance diver and working on peacekeeping mission in East Timor, he said his goal was to get back to working exactly where he was before the incident.
"That will be something that I'll have to do,'' he told the Nine Network.
"It's going to be a tough bridge to cross, but you can't show weakness.''
Mr de Gelder gave a vivid account of the savage 6.30am (AEDT) attack while visiting the scene north of the Garden Island docks.
"It's all a little bit nerve-wracking really,'' he said.
"I kind-of wish I didn't come out that day but you can't change the past. You have to look to the future.''
He said that during equipment testing sharks were "everywhere'' off Garden Island and the thought of the predators circling came into his mind "every time''.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
More proof that you can't cure stupid.
Luckily, he happened to have the Bat Shark Repellent with him or it would have been certain doom.
If something's almost 9 feet and has teeth, I'd rather not be on the same planet as it. I'm certainly not getting in the water with it.
25!
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