8. Sacrifices Leg to Save Brother; Becomes Shark Conservationist
bbc.com
Achmat Hassiem and his brother were in the South African surf, performing some training duties with a life guard when Achmat saw a dark triangle approaching his brother underwater. Achmat stuck his head under to identify the shadow, which turned out be a 16-foot great white shark, planning to turn his brother into a meal. At the time, his brother was doing a dead man float in the water, unaware of what was transpiring.
Bravely, Achmat started splashing around to attract attention away from his brother and towards himself. As the lifeguards got his brother out of the water, Achmat saw the great white change course and dive into a vertical attack pattern. He tried to mount the shark, but realized that his leg was already stuck in its massive mouth.
The great white dragged Achmat underwater, freeing the brave soul only after severing his right leg. Once he healed from the ordeal, he decided to become an athlete, winning a medal at the London Paralympics. Achmat is now a shark conservationist: “Resulting from the shark attack, I’ve managed to go around the world, see difference countries, and meet different people,” Achmat said. “Hey, all of this stemming from this shark attack, somehow I have to give back to sharks.”
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