Life and Death Synchronicities

I know this photo might look somewhat brutal to some folks, a shark with a spear protruding from its head. But you need to know the story behind it and why Rick Bettua went after this particular bull shark. Rick was a U.S. Navy diver for thirty-two years. Diving has been his life. After he retired, he moved to Queensland, Australia where his wife was from. It’s also close to one of the world’s best places for spearfishing, the Great Barrier Reef.

Rick likes to remain active so besides spearfishing he took up a martial arts practice called Muay Thai. His instructor, Glenn, became curious about spearfish and Rick started taking him out on dives from time to time. One day en route to the marina, Glenn said he was concerned about sharks while diving, and Rick assured him that the chances of getting bit by a shark are far less than the chances of getting hit by lightning.

That same day, Glenn was snorkeling in shallow water, about ten feet deep, when a bull shark attacked him and shredded his leg. Rick was able to get him back into the boat and apply two tourniquets that saved Glenn’s life. But he lost his leg.

The next day, Rick went back to the small reef that was surrounded by sand and talked to fishermen there who were familiar with that shark and they told Rick how to attract it to his boat. He revved his engine, as they’d suggested, and within a couple of minutes the shark came right up the boat. Rick shot it, killing it.

Three years later in October of 2020 Rick was free diving on a reef not far from where Glenn was attacked and a bull shark attacked him ,and he nearly bled to death before he reached shore 90 minutes later. But a series of synchronicities occurred that saved his life. Twenty miles from shore, they came upon a larger fishing boat, which could go faster. On board coincidentally was a pediatric cardiologist, who help save Rick and helped assemble a rescue team that awaited Rick’s arrival on shore.

I know about Rick’s story because I (Rob) have been editing his survival/adventure book that covers numerous dangerous encounters he faced over three decades as a diver. I’ve been very impressed with Rick, who has written a very compelling story.

Rick’s story will be featured July 17 on an episode of the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, called I Was Prey, 

Also, here’s a video about Rick made by Kimi Werner. Rick calls Kimi the best known woman diver in the world. It’s an excellent video.