[VAULT] Paul de Gelder on Confronting Your Fears

A Clearance Diver in the Australian Navy, in 2009 Paul de Gelder was working in Sydney Harbour when he was attacked by a bull shark (the first attack inside the Harbour in 60 years). Paul lost his right hand in the attack and his right leg was amputated a week later. What’s remarkable about Paul is not that he was attacked. What’s remarkable is what he’s done since then. Not only has he returned to the open water, but he also confronted his fear and dived with bull sharks and even learnt to feed them by hand. He’s also become an advocate for the protection of sharks and has hosted documentaries for the Discovery Channel during Shark Week. In this conversation, we discuss his troubled childhood, what he gained when he joined the Army, his decision to become a Clearance Diver despite a “massive” fear of sharks and how he was able to overcome his fear to get back in the water. Get the full show notes for the episode here. — Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here  Follow Sparta Chicks Radio on Facebook: facebook.com/SpartaChicks  Follow Paul on Instagram: @PauldeGelder