PAUL DE GELDER BIOGRAPHY
BASED SYDNEY
Paul speaks from the heart about overcoming adversity, beating the odds through the combination of physical strength, mental toughness and the sheer will to live.
On February 11, 2009 while Paul was on exercise as a Navy clearance diver in Sydney Harbour, he was attacked by a massive bull shark between Garden Island and Mrs Macquaries Chair resulting in the loss of his right leg and right hand.
Paul’s recovery is an inspirational story of mental and physical courage. Discharged from hospital, Paul refused to go to a rehabilitation institute and declined sessions with a counsellor; choosing instead to do it all himself – with a little help from his friends. Four months after the attack, he went skydiving with his partner. Today he’s back surfing, driving a car and pumping out 20 chin-ups with the help of specially designed prosthetics. He’s flown a plane, raced a Porsche and amazingly, has dived with sharks twice since in an oceanarium.
Paul speaks from the heart about overcoming adversity, beating the odds through the combination of physical strength, mental toughness and the sheer will to live. His presentations range from talking with kids with cancer (who he readily says are far worse off than him), to personnel from the US Navy’s diving branch who recently flew him to San Diego and gave him a standing ovation.
Minx magazine recently named him one of Australia’s 16 most inspirational people in company with Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and the late Jim Stynes.
Improvise…Adapt…Overcome… has become his mantra, echoing that of the US Marines. It is a lesson that we each owe to ourselves to help us make the best of our lives.
An amazing man, an amazing story. Paul will simply inspire you.