Achmat Hassiem, a South African open water swimmer who lost his leg to a 4.7m Great White Shark, gave a riveting TEDx Talk back in 2012.
The former lifeguard from Strandfontein Village in Cape Town jumped in front of a Great White Shark in order to save his younger brother. “It was my job to help my brother. I thought I was going to jump on its back, but the shark got hold of my right leg and I could hear my bones going to pieces. I thought to myself, ‘There’s no way I’m going to survive,’ but I was punching and fighting as best I could. Later, my brother helped me [survive] as he pinched my veins in order to help stop the bleeding[after being dragged underwater for 75 meters].”
For more information on the tough challenges Hassiem is currently facing, visit here.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
