Latest news with #AustralianNavy
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A shark attack survivor says to do this if you come face to fin with a great white
You're treading cold ocean water off Cape Cod and, suddenly, you're not alone - a great white shark has confused you for a bobbing grey seal, and is hoping for a lucky bite. What do you do? Former Australian Navy diver and shark attack survivor, Paul de Gelder, who lost his right hand and leg in a 2009 Sydney Harbor attack, says the key to ensuring your survival lies in your behavior. First, stay cool and collected, he told 'CBS Mornings' this week - no matter how hard that may be. "I know it goes against all natural instincts of preservation, not to panic, but that's the most important thing you can do," the 47-year-old said. 'You have to understand these sharks don't really know what you are, you're almost the same size as them, and they don't want to fight." Second, he said, be aware of where the shark is at all times by staring the apex predator down. 'They know when you're watching, they don't want to attack you when you're watching" he explained. Lastly, resist the urge to punch the creature — unless you absolutely have to. Pushing the sharks can guide them away from you, but divers advise people not to grab their faces. 'Because under their snouts are highly sensitive pores called the Ampullae of Lorenzini — tiny receptors that detect electrical signals. Touching that area can overstimulate them, causing a shark to reflexively open its mouth wide,' SDM Diving says. However, sharks respect size and power and people should not act passively during an encounter. Beachgoers have gotten away from sharks by taking swings at their noses and eyes. De Gelder tried to do the same, but was unsuccessful. Should the shark become aggressive, shark researcher Ryan Johnson previously told the BBC that people should try to do everything in their power and keep their hands out the animals' jaws. Ideally, they should use something hard to push the shark away. 'In a situation where you don't have that, going for the face and the gills and trying to keep your hands out of its mouth is always the best thing,' he said. Experts at the Florida Museum's International Shark Attack File say people should aim for the eyes and gills, but note that water resistance weakens a punch. Of course, the chance of any of this happening is incredibly remote. A human is more likely to bite you than a shark and a Stanford University report from 2015 found that surfers and scuba divers have a one in 17 million and one in 136 million chance of being bitten, respectively. More often than not, a bite is the case of mistaken identity and potentially the result of low vision in great whites. Last year, the number of unprovoked bites were significantly lower than average, in the U.S. and globally. There were 28 in the U.S., compared to the 36 reported in 2023. Still, to be safe, there are things people can do before they enter the water to minimize their chance of a bite, including not entering the water where there's a lot of fish, not going into the water alone or at dawn or dusk, when vision may be low. De Gelder, who is part of a new Discovery Channel special called 'How to Survive a Shark Attack,' previously told the Australian Broadcasting Company that he was wearing a wet suit and black fins, likely 'looking like an injured seal' to the shark that attacked him. "I want to show people by doing," he told CBS.
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Former Navy diver reveals the key to surviving a shark attack
Former Australian Navy diver and shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder says the key to ensuring your survival lies in your behaviour, and advises staying calm and collected during an encounter, as panic can worsen the situation. Maintain eye contact with the shark, as they are less likely to attack when they know they are being watched. Resist the urge to punch the shark unless absolutely necessary; pushing them away is generally more effective, avoiding sensitive areas like the Ampullae of Lorenzini under their snout. If a shark becomes aggressive, target its eyes and gills, though experts note water resistance can weaken a punch. Shark attacks are extremely rare, often due to mistaken identity, but swimmers can minimise risk by avoiding areas with many fish, and not swimming alone or at dawn or dusk.
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Shark attack survivor shares top 3 tips to help stay safe during encounter
Shark sightings off the eastern coast of the United States this summer may have some people wondering what they could do if they encounter a shark. "People go in the ocean every single day against this natural common sense knowing there's sharks in there, knowing there's jellyfish, knowing there's all kinds of beastly aliens in there. We still do it because we love it," Paul de Gelder, who lost his hand and leg in a 2009 shark attack while working as a bomb disposal diver for the Australian Navy, said Monday on "CBS Mornings." De Gelder shared some tips for surviving an attack. "I don't want people to have to go through what I went through, it's no fun. It hurts. There's a lot of recovery," he said. Here are his top tips: De Gelder is bringing his survival tips to a new Discovery Channel special, "How to Survive a Shark Attack," in which he tries to get attacked by the ocean animals in order to demonstrate how to survive. "I want to show people by doing," he said of the show. "They get to see what happens when a shark bites someone. What do I do if someone next to me gets attacked by a shark? What do I do if I get attacked by a shark? Let's show them exactly what to do." In July, officials in Maine warned beachgoers to exercise caution after multiple sightings of great white sharks, and a great white shark weighing more than 1,653 pounds was recently detected about 50 miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. There have been some attacks this year, too. Earlier this month, an 18-year-old surf instructor was rushed to the hospital after he was attacked by a shark at a Florida beach. He was bitten on his foot while surfing off New Smyrna Beach, about 60 miles northeast of Orlando. In June, a 12-year-old girl was airlifted from South Carolina's Hilton Head Island after she was bitten by a shark. Just days prior, a 9-year-old nearly lost her hand after being bitten by a shark near Boca Grande on Florida's west coast.
Sky News AU
04-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Tony Abbott has serious concerns with the Japanese bid for defence contract
Former prime minister Tony Abbott says rejecting the Japanese bid to help Australia's defence would not damage the relationship with Australia, but it would raise serious concerns. Military brass in Canberra are rapidly trying to work out which frigate Australia should buy to cover our growing capability gap. The Japanese government is lobbying the Australian government in a bid to win a $10 billion contract, which could see it build a dozen frigates for the Australian Navy. The Australian government is choosing between the Japanese bid and the German bid. 'I don't think it would break the relationship, but it certainly would be a great disappointment,' Mr Abbott said. The government aims to decide which bid to take by Christmas.
The Guardian
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
ABC investigates defence correspondent for allegedly not disclosing trip paid for by German ship builder
The ABC is investigating 'serious allegations' its defence correspondent Andrew Greene filed a story about a German ship builder without disclosing he had traveled to Germany courtesy of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, which is hoping to win Australian navy contracts. Media Watch revealed that Greene filed a story for ABC radio's The World Today last week about how business is booming at German shipyards. The report, which has since been taken down, allegedly failed to disclose the journalist had been a guest of the defence giant. 'These are serious allegations and the ABC is investigating them,' a spokesperson for ABC News said. 'The ABC has rigorous editorial policies and any such behaviour, if proven, would be unacceptable and could constitute misconduct. For reasons of due process and confidentiality we won't comment further while the investigation is underway.' As a public broadcaster the ABC does not generally accept travel paid for by the subject of the report as it would be a conflict of interest. The ABC did not clarify whether Greene had been stood down pending an investigation. 'Across northern Germany, shipyards are at capacity as military orders ramp up. Rising global strategic tensions mean business is booming,' Greene reported on The World Today on 11 June. According to Media Watch, the ABC was unaware Greene had travelled to Germany at all. He filed the story when he returned from personal leave. Greene has been with the public broadcaster since 2010 and has been a high-profile defence correspondent for the past 10 years. The same international press junket was taken by the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald's Matthew Knott, who is the foreign affairs and national security correspondent. Knott's report disclosed that he 'visited Germany courtesy of TKMS [ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems]'. A spokesperson for Nine Entertainment said it is 'standard for the mastheads to disclose trips that have been provided'. Knott reported from Kiel, Germany, that ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is competing against Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build up to 11 general-purpose frigates to replace the Australian navy's ageing fleet. The Australian government is deciding whether to award the $10bn shipbuilding contract to Germany or Japan, and defence correspondents are keeping a close eye on developments. The ABC did approve another trip Greene took last year hosted by the Foreign Press Centre Japan, which is a privately funded non-profit, and he filed three reports. 'While in Japan, Mr Greene covered the topics of security and diplomacy, interviewing a House of Representatives Member and government officials with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense,' the centre said. 'He also visited the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Yokosuka Naval Base and saw the JS Mogami frigate.' The press centre helped arrange access for Greene to some of the country's top defence officials while in Tokyo. A disclosure was included on two stories that the Foreign Press Centre Japan 'hosted Andrew in Tokyo'. Greene has been approached for comment.
