A New Zealand social media influencer is counting his blessings after a terrifying shark attack off the remote shores of Fiji nearly cost him his leg and the entire harrowing ordeal was caught on video.
Henry Gibbs, a popular spearfishing content creator with more than 130,000 followers, was diving for the first time in Fiji when a gray reef shark launched a sudden assault. The predator sidestepped his speargun, clamped onto the back of his calf, and began a violent death roll, leaving Gibbs fighting for his life in bloody waters.
“I knew it was coming for me,” Gibbs later recounted. “That’s why you can hear me starting to make a fuss before it even gets to me. It latches onto the back of my calf and starts death rolling.”
The dramatic footage, shared widely online, shows the shark’s aggressive approach and the moment of impact as Gibbs struggles. Fellow divers Colby and Dan sprang into action, pulling the badly wounded man from the water and providing critical first aid before rushing him to a hospital.
Gibbs underwent four surgeries and a skin graft. Doctors say he is expected to make a full recovery and retain full use of his foot, an outcome he calls nothing short of miraculous.
“Four surgeries and a skin graft later, it’s looking like I’ll make a full recovery, which I’m hugely grateful for,” Gibbs said. “Feeling incredibly lucky to still have my leg.”
In a remarkable display of perspective, the young influencer harbors no bitterness toward the animal. “No hard feelings towards the shark,” he stated. “I was in its environment hunting its food. Wrong place, wrong time.”
Gibbs has used the experience to share safety lessons for other divers and spearfishermen, urging people to exit the water at the first sign of changing shark behavior and recommending plain black wetsuits in tropical waters rather than camouflage patterns that may attract attention.
The attack serves as a stark reminder of the raw power of nature even for experienced ocean enthusiasts. Gibbs’ survival story has resonated widely, with supporters praising his calm resolve and the quick thinking of his diving partners.
As he continues to recover, the influencer plans to release more footage, along with practical advice, so others can avoid a similar nightmare.
