News: Navy diver suffers shark attack [Archive]

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kookaburra

11-02-2009, 00:36

An R.A.N. clearance team diver involved in an anti-terrorism exercise near Garden Island in Sydney Harbour suffered a serious shark attack early this morning.

Very exceptional event within the Harbour.

Here's a report from the Brisbane Courier Mail site:

A NAVY diver fought off a shark as it attacked him during an anti-terrorism training exercise in Sydney Harbour today, the Navy says.

The 31-year-old man is undergoing emergency surgery and is in a serious condition following the attack at Garden Island Naval Base, Woolloomooloo Bay, in Sydney's inner east, just before 7am (AEDT) on Wednesday.
A NSW ambulance spokesman said the 31-year-old suffered severe injuries to his right hand and thigh. The Daily Telegraph reports he had lost his hand.

Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Nigel Coates said the attack occurred in the area between Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Garden Island Naval Base.

Rear Admiral Coates, who is Fleet Commander at Garden Island, confirmed the man is a navy diver who was participating in a diving exercise in Sydney Harbour run by the navy over the past two weeks.

"He was with a police diver, I understand, at the time because the exercise included police divers. The attack occurred on the surface," he told Fairfax Radio Network.

"He fought off the shark. He hit the shark a few times, as I understand it, and then swam a couple of metres to the safety boat which was obviously nearby.

"The safety boat people got him on board, applied first aid, rang triple-0, got him to the ambulance and up to the hospital.

"It sounds to me, initially at least, like he got to hospital very quickly, and he's in the good hands of St Vincent's."

Navy divers were a "pretty tough breed" who trained regularly in Sydney Harbour and were used to the conditions, he said.

A shark expert said a bull shark was likely to be responsible for the attack.

"If the injuries are severe, it's more likely to be a bull shark," shark expert John West from Taronga Zoo told AAP.

"This time of year, there's a number of species of sharks which are in the harbour: wobbegong, Port Jackson, as well as more dangerous types such as the bull shark and the dusky shark.

"Certainly, sharks occur in the harbour all year round.

"The bull sharks are the most dangerous. But I don't know what sort of shark is involved or the circumstances."

He said bull sharks could grow to up to three and a half metres and dusky sharks up to two metres.

The diver was rushed to nearby St Vincent's Hospital where a spokesman said the victim was undergoing surgery.

"He's up in surgery at the moment," the spokesman told AAP.

"The fact that he has been rushed into surgery indicates that it is quite serious."

The diver was taking part in the Kondari Trial, a test of new technologies to protect ports and ships from terrorist attack, which began on Monday.

A spokesman for the Defence Science and Technology Organisation said it was likely the trial would be cancelled today.

The last shark attack in Sydney Harbour was at Athol Bay, near Taronga Zoo, in 2000, and the last fatal shark attack in the harbour occurred in 1963, Mr West said.

Martha Hathaway was killed by a bull shark at Middle Harbour in 1963.

A report on the likelihood of shark attacks in Sydney Harbour during the 2000 Olympic Games said the risk was infinitesimally small.

However, the report, by Mr West and Dr John Paxton, research fellow at the Australian Museum, also said: "We recognise that in biology exceptions can occur and that it is never safe to say never."

herakles

11-02-2009, 00:55

The navy has called off the trial.

herakles

12-02-2009, 05:05

The poor man has lost a hand and most likely a leg as well. Very sad.

ivorthediver

15-02-2009, 16:28

Poor Sod I Feel for the guy , but at least he was working ...so hopefuly the Navy will help him and support him..

Regards Ivor

Vegaskip

15-02-2009, 19:29

I was in Victorious visiting Sydney, berthed at Garden Island in I think 1967when an ordanance "Tiffy" dropped part of one of the ships guns over the side.
My mate Sandy Powel was one of the ships divers who was sent down to search for the part, which was recovered.
I remember him saying that he and his buddy had to stay on the bottom for some time while a shark circled above them.

Jim

ivorthediver

17-02-2009, 18:39

Any one know how the RAN Navy Diver is doing now please

vivian

18-02-2009, 05:56

Ivor, the news releases are saying that he has had his leg amputated today (18th) after already losing his hand in the attack last week. Poor fellow.

It would be good to follow how this young man progresses from here.

regards
Vivian

ivorthediver

18-02-2009, 17:22

Hi Vivian ,

Thanks for the update on the RAN Diver, and so sorry for him , its any active persons worst nightmare

Yes it would be great to get updates on his progress.

Incidently we have the same christian name mine is Ivor Vivian Grant.

Don't often come across another one ...Infact your the first

Kind Regards Ivor

kookaburra

19-02-2009, 02:55

Yes, this is just awful. But he's young and fit, and - poor compensation as this may sound - prosthetics these days
are so advanced. One hopes he'll get every official support and help he needs.

vivian

19-02-2009, 03:44

I've just read this statement from the diver in the Canberra Times;

''I'm looking forward to rebuilding my life and taking on the new challenges I have to face. Ultimately I would like to return to what I love navy diving,'' he said. A spokesman for St Vincent's Hospital said Able Seaman de Gelder remained in a stable condition in the hospital's naval ward. AAP

Let's hope he can work towards diving again in any capacity.

Ivor, yes you are right about our name, it is still not a common one.

regards
Vivian

ivorthediver

19-02-2009, 17:23

Hi Vivian ,

Thanks for the update...... and glad its positive news for him and I hope he can get back to diving as in "MEN of Honour"

Regards Ivor

kookaburra

24-02-2009, 07:54

Any one know how the RAN Navy Diver is doing now please

There was a report on this and another recent shark attack off Bondi on the ABC TV news here tonight. And the news is very encouraging. Doctors described the 31-year-old Navy diver, Able Seaman de Gelders as one of the most exceptional patients they have ever had: said he was already doing weights training in bed, and talking about going mountain climbing before the end of the year.

Sounds like he is not going to accept any of our pity. Good on him!

ivorthediver

24-02-2009, 18:43

Blaydon

24-02-2009, 21:42

At the risk of appearing crass the navy now has the information it needs, If you have the possibility of terrorist scuba divers fill your harbour with bull sharks.

But really my sympathies to the diver in question but he seems to be of true spirit and with an attitude to move mountains. Good on him.

kookaburra

25-02-2009, 02:08

I am so pleased to hear that Kookaburra as if anything would defeat him it would be his attitude to his injuries, and his desire to battle against what most would see as the end of his Diving.

A case of like minded people...i'm afraid as I was told that I would never be able to dive by PADI but I approached the "British Sub Aqua Club "and they told me that if I could pass the medical and prove that I was a well controlled type 1 Diabetic ....they would teach me to Dive ....So I did
and trained as a Club Diver , then Sports Diver, then Assistant Club Instructor , then Dive Leader and finealy as an ADVANCED NITROX DIVER.

So as I say its "all in the mind" as to how you react to a situation "outside of your control" ...and how determined you are to overcome...... what some people say is " Impossible"

It pleasies me know end to hear of people like him applying himself to what he likes doing best and winning through.

Yes, well done to you too Ivor. Many years ago there was a well-known case here in which a diver named Henri Bource lost his left leg at the knee to a white pointer attack off South Australia . This was in November 1964. Bource was a quite well-known enterainment industry figure, a saxophonist and band manager as I recall. Anyway, it created considerable amazement at the time when he resumed diving, regularly, in the same waters.

Nowadays, when treatment and therapies have advanced, we might not be quite so surprised, but it seemed unbelievable at the time.

herakles

25-02-2009, 03:33

From today's Herald Sun:

A bull shark, estimated between 2.7m and 3m long, was hooked within just an hour of putting lines in the harbour in a search for sharks yesterday.

The NSW Government's shark attack investigator believed a bull shark of that length was responsible for the mauling of Able Seaman de Gelder on February 11.

The shark was hooked in just 8m of water yesterday, 10-15m from shore and only a few kilometres from where Able Seaman de Gelder was attacked, losing a hand and a leg.

A few hundred metres away, people were enjoying a glorious late summer day, splashing in netted swimming enclosures.

No berley (mashed fish flesh) was needed to attract the shark, just a simple fillet of tuna.

One other shark was spotted -- possibly a bull shark -- of about 1.8m.

After a 90-minute battle with the shark, a fisheries tag was about to be put in its shoulders when its teeth finally overcame the wire trace and it was gone.

ivorthediver

25-02-2009, 07:36

Thank you lads for your well chosen words.

Haveing only been a member since New Year I am proud to be a member of this Forum as it seems to be one of the few places left on this planet where "Normal people with the Old values" exist........ with a few minor exceptions .......but that is a reflection of life

It is very heartening to hear your responses as I am sure the ARN Diver will quickly learn how to seperate "patronising" from "sincerity" right now I would think he is learning.......... the hard way

Thanks again for your honesty

Kind regards
ps ....if you are passing Fitzroy North say hi to my Brother

ivorthediver

08-03-2009, 05:30

Morning Lads,
Any more news on Able Seaman De Gilders and his progress please.

Regards Ivor

ivorthediver

08-03-2009, 05:50

Good morning Herakles,

I am curious,Did Buddha assist in the matter you were concerned about in the early part of the year ? [Feb ?]

Kind Regards Ivor

[somewhere south west of Cambridge]

herakles

08-03-2009, 05:56

To answer both your questions Ivor:

I gather the diver has now sold his story to the highest bidder.

And no, I regret that I still have that problem. :(

ivorthediver

08-03-2009, 16:40

So Sorry to hear both those answers
I will keep you in my thoughts a light a candle for you my friend

Kind regards Ivor

herakles

08-03-2009, 18:33

So Sorry to hear both those answers
I will keep you in my thoughts a light a candle for you my friend

Kind regards Ivor

Thank you Ivor. I've a need for the candle.

ivorthediver

10-03-2009, 20:23

Be careful for that which you wish for my friend

Am I right in thinking that this candle would not be lit , more of a bargaining point perhaps

Take care Ivor

herakles

10-03-2009, 20:40

I ask Lord Buddha for good luck! Hell, I need some.

Always light the candle. In fact for Lord Buddha, one usually lights 9 of them.

ivorthediver

11-03-2009, 05:29

Then I retract my last comment as I thought you had another use in mind !

I hope that Buddha is mindful of your needs and attends to your concerns...
as I am sure he will....but not always in the direction that you anticipate

Take care my friend.....it will resolve itself soon.

Kind regards Ivor

battlestar

10-05-2009, 13:34

From the Weekend Australian

Navy diver Paul de Gelder attacked by shark in Sydney Harbour plans to return to work

May 10, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press

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''.

"You just put it to the back of your mind and try not to worry about it.

"You have an obligation, a role and a job that you have to get on with so you don't let the things that scare you stop you from doing that.''

He said sharks were in his mind on the morning the attack.

Mr de Gelder was on the surface when the shark began mauling his leg and hand.

"I was swimming on my back. I had my fins on and a wetsuit on, and I was just checking my direction and when I got halfway back from turning around I got hit in the leg and looked down and there was a big toothy grin.

"'(It was) grey, white, toothy and beady.

"I'd never seen a shark up close before. To see it like that was not something you expect.

"You look down and there's a big monster attached to you and your mind goes into panic mode.''

ivorthediver

10-05-2009, 19:25

Great news indeed.

Lets hope the sentiments expressed in post 13 are bearing fruit and he is allowed to return to duties

Regards and thanks for the update

Ivor

curleyone

13-05-2009, 04:25

You all may be pleased to hear that Paul was in the news yesterday as he enjoyed a swim in the surf at Bondi, his picture was in the newspapers with one leg and his hand missing holding a surfboard. He said that he would like to continue his service as a CD once his scars heal.
It seem nothing will stop this brave bloke.

ivorthediver

14-05-2009, 17:34

I can only applaud his spirit ......and encourage him to go for it

but thanks for the update Curleyone

gunnersmate

14-05-2009, 21:03

Good luck to him, I hope he wins through.

Baz.

David Verghese

24-08-2009, 22:43

I came across this thread today and am attaching a picture I have (I think the source was a National Geographic photograph competion/exhibition). The shot shows a RN diver being hauled up, just beyond the jaws of a huge shark, during a recent naval excercise off the coast of South Africa.
The picture dramatically relives the terror that the RAN diver must have experienced.
NB: I have a good largish picture but it is a bitmap image. I couldn't attach it so I have changed it to a JPEG image, but the thumbnail is now very small. I would be happy to email the original bitmap image to one of the technical gurus on the forum who can somehow hopefully change it to a larger JPEG format

David

Francis Stanley

25-08-2009, 07:45

David
I think if that is a genuine picture then I am an Admiral of the Fleet :)

Francis Stanley

25-08-2009, 07:48

David Verghese

25-08-2009, 09:34

David
I think if that is a genuine picture then I am an Admiral of the Fleet :)

Francis,
Thanks for your response. I have just followed up the matter on the Nat. Geographic News website to find out that the photograph is indeed a fake. Somewhat naievely I failed to even consider this possibility. Apparently hundreds of thousands of people were taken in by it. This is embarrassing; my apologies to the forum and thanks to a skilled ex navy diver to recognise the impossibility of the image. I did think that the presence of a US Pave Hawk helicopter was a bit strange, but joint excercises with the USN do occur.

Perhaps the Forum Moderator or Site Administator will come to my rescue and remove my posting..... on the other hand - August is the silly season.

David

diddyriddick

25-08-2009, 16:37

Francis,
Thanks for your response. I have just followed up the matter on the Nat. Geographic News website to find out that the photograph is indeed a fake. Somewhat naievely I failed to even consider this possibility. Apparently hundreds of thousands of people were taken in by it. This is embarrassing; my apologies to the forum and thanks to a skilled ex navy diver to recognise the impossibility of the image. I did think that the presence of a US Pave Hawk helicopter was a bit strange, but joint excercises with the USN do occur.

Perhaps the Forum Moderator or Site Administator will come to my rescue and remove my posting..... on the other hand - August is the silly season.

David

Shake it off, David. It was an honest mistake.

Btw....7.2 meters is HUGE for a Bull Shark. Though recent scholarship seems to point to this species for most shark attacks, rather than the larger Tigers or Great Whites.

astraltrader

25-08-2009, 16:45

I am with Diddy Riddick over this, David.

Put it down to just an honest mistake!

I doubt whether there are many of us here in the forum who have not been misled over pictures seen on the internet at one time or the other - even if only a wrongly captioned example!:o

Francis Stanley

26-08-2009, 10:16

Francis,
Thanks for your response. I have just followed up the matter on the Nat. Geographic News website to find out that the photograph is indeed a fake. Somewhat naievely I failed to even consider this possibility. Apparently hundreds of thousands of people were taken in by it. This is embarrassing; my apologies to the forum and thanks to a skilled ex navy diver to recognise the impossibility of the image. I did think that the presence of a US Pave Hawk helicopter was a bit strange, but joint excercises with the USN do occur.

Perhaps the Forum Moderator or Site Administator will come to my rescue and remove my posting..... on the other hand - August is the silly season.

David

David

I wouldn't worry about it, you did not post it to be hurtful to the striken diver just posted as an honest (so you assumed) addition to the thread, so don't beat yourself up about it :)

ivorthediver

06-09-2009, 20:21

Has anyone heard any more about this soul , and how he is getting on please

ivorthediver

14-10-2009, 17:34

As a point of interest and having received no reply to my previous post on 06/09/2009 [post 38] ....can anyone tell me if any naval persons have been eaten by sharks ?

I have heard many cases of people being "tasted" by shark's and receiving terrible injury's but never heard of anyone actually being eaten by one

Any ideas lads ?

Bundall

15-10-2009, 04:47

In the late fifties or early Sixties an Australian Navy sailor was taken by a Great White shark whilst swimming ashore in Tasmania.

ivorthediver

18-10-2009, 06:47

Thank you for responding to the Question , and sorry for the delay in my response to you

Regards Ivor

John O'Callaghan

25-11-2009, 05:14

Hi All. For those who expressed interest. An update AB Clearance Diver Paul de Gelder. After losing his leg in the shark attack. His recoverery is going well. He is back training at the RAN diving school HMAS Penguin. He is awaiting the construction of a special marine grade waterproof prosthesis. With that it is hoped he can then be assessed for return to full operational Clearance Diver status.LOOKING GOOD!
Cheers John O'C.

Jackaroo

28-11-2009, 10:40

ivorthediver

29-11-2009, 05:42

Hi Jack , whats VB when its at home please

Has he returned to service yet

John O'Callaghan

29-11-2009, 06:59

Hi All! For the unaware, VB is Victoria Bitter one of a number of fine Ales native to Australia.Usually served COLD to the utter bewilderment of some people.And yes the 'Bubbly' Branch looks like keeping one of it's members
Cheers John O'C.

ivorthediver

29-11-2009, 18:21

Well all I can say to that is well done to him and a far sighted and responsible action by the R.A.N.....well done I am delighted to hear that

Rob Hoole

04-12-2009, 22:57

Here's a photo taken in Oz last month of Australian clearance diver AB(CD) Paul de Gelder with RN Superintendent of Diving Cdr Paul Jones.

http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/AB(CD)%20Paul%20De%20Gelder%20with%20Paul%20Jones% 20med.jpg (http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/AB%28CD%29%20Paul%20De%20Gelder%20with%20Paul%20Jo nes.jpg)

ivorthediver

05-12-2009, 03:58

you see there are some areas of the World where common sense still prevails

Well done to all concerned

Bee

05-12-2009, 05:33

Well done to the young man for getting his head around such an ordeal and keeping on with his dream/career. Of course, (although I haven't seen the VB advert) I should imagine it would have been a good incentive for anyone who likes VB to get their drinking arm prothesis (if he was right handed) back into full operational mode.:)

What a great ambassador Paul is for 'putting set backs behind you and just getting on with life.' I wish him the best.

Cheers,
Bee

John O'Callaghan

05-12-2009, 09:23

HI Bee! I believe that one of the fundamental requirements for sailors is that they be ambidexterous.Just in case they have a hand bitten off by a shark(or a crocodile, one can't be to careful) and they could not drink beer.Studies have shown this to be a common fear.
Cheers John O'C.

Bee

14-09-2010, 12:19

I admire this man, Australian Navy diver, Paul de Gelder, more and more.:) Look what he and other shark bite survivors have devoted themselves to....protecting the world's sharks :) (which in turn also helps protect the fragile ecological balance of other sealife.) Now that's altruism.

What better advocates could the sharks have. :)

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/shark-bite-victims-unite-to-save-sharks-20100914-159qk.html

They are especially trying to protect sharks from the horrific and inhumane practise of "finning" (where thousands of sharks have been caught, had their fins cut off and are then thrown, finless, back into the sea to die in agony. All for the sake of a bowl of soup. :(:mad:

It is illegal for fishermen to "fin" sharks in Australian waters...but apparently there is nothing stopping fins being imported. The news report that I've just listened to, mentioned a large amount of shark fins were imported into Australia last year. (I'd quote the figure, but it was so high - I must have misheard it.) The only sure way restauranteurs can ensure that the fins they use, have been (relatively humanely) taken (from a whole shark) is to make sure that they're sourced from sharks caught here, in Australian waters.

Thus, this lobby group is after a total ban on "finning" and worldwide regulations on how many sharks can be caught.

What a good cause. I hope that Paul and the others manage to inspire some change amongst those in a position to make a difference.

I guess that the best thing the rest of us can do, to help the cause, is to never eat shark fin soup.

Regards,

Bee

mstary1

15-09-2010, 00:44

I served with Paul or "DG" as we call him last year and he is quite a character.
It was his first time as Quartermaster and he was thirsty and hungry during his watch. So he uses the ships broadcast system to ask for a orange juice and a sandwich! The ships CO and XO, who were onboard at the time, had a good chuckle before sending the OOD up there to let him know it wasn't in ships standing orders to order food over main broadcast. Also that it was a good idea to wear a shirt when on the Gangway.:D

Good bloke, good worker and we in the RAN were all shocked when it happened. I only hope if something like that ever happened to me, I would have his attitude.