Sir David Attenborough says 'I'm approaching the end' as he makes heartbreaking admission

Edinburgh Live

01-05-2025

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Sir David Attenborough has made candid admission over the state of the planet as he confessed to "approaching the end" of his life.
The iconic presenter celebrates his 99th birthday on May 9 and has admitted to nearly 'losing hope' over the 'poor health' of our oceans. In a new documentary, set to air on Disney+, Sir David opened up about his own mortality and a life of broadcasting.
Sir David makes a number of stark admissions in Ocean with David Attenborough, which is due for release as a 'global cinema event' from May 8. After spending more then 70 years in television, Sir David reflected upon his fascination with our planet.
He shared: "When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity. Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true.
"After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea."
(Image: Pool, Getty Images)
Sir David also voiced his concern over the dire state of the ocean. He confessed: "Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all."
But the beloved presenter remained optimistic, believing that marine ecosystems can rebound remarkably well. He continued: "If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I'm sure nothing is more important.'"
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Historical footage accompanies Attenborough's musings, including scenes from his first scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef back in 1957, reports the Express. Despite sounding the alarm that time is of the essence, Sir David remains optimistic that by protecting marine reserves and prohibiting fishing in these areas, we can help restore the ocean's ecosystem.
Sir David has consistently used his documentaries to spotlight the environmental issues our planet faces and has played a significant role in developing initiatives to protect endangered species.
(Image: Mike Kemp, In Pictures via Getty Images)
The veteran broadcaster noted: "The world would be in a far, far worse situation now had there been no broadcasting of natural history. People have found it a source of fascination, beauty, and interest, which has become key to looking after the world."
In a past interview with the Telegraph, David admitted that he was "coming to terms" with the fact that as finding the right words takes longer, you can "run into problems", as evidenced by his struggle to recall the name of a plant in front of him.
Ocean with David Attenborough is releasing as a Global Cinema Event from May 8. It will also be made available on National Geographic, Disney Plus, and Hulu later this year.