Man chilling on shore with partner heard a loud scream — his quick action saved a 57-year-old from a shark attack
Danger can arrive within moments, and you are left with the frightening decision to act. A simple situation can turn into life-threatening and it is crucial to exercise astuteness and calm. A man named Blake Donaldson was with his partner at Gunyah Beach in Bundeena, when something unexpected happened, per 60 Minutes Australia. What was meant to be a refreshing time with his partner turned into a worrisome and scary experience when he heard a scream. The duo were the only two people at the beach but as soon as they heard a third frantic voice, they rushed into action, saving the life of 57-year-old Mangyon Zhang, per The New York Post.
The couple had just finished swimming and were headed out of the water when they heard someone yell, “Help me.” Donaldson spotted Zhang and rushed into the water. He had no idea what had happened or what he was venturing into. “I just had to jump in. The fight-or-flight kicks in and I just made the decision. Sure, there could be a shark but my reaction was, ‘I just have to save this woman,’” he recalled. Turns out, it was a shark. Zhang was out in the water and thought of taking a quick swim. Unfortunately, while swimming, she was met with a suspicious feeling brushing off her.
“I knew something stung me and then there’s a very eerie feeling like something just passed me. I was so scared I was like, ‘Oh, what’s that?’” Zhang recalled. The next thing she saw was the water surrounding her turning red due to the amount of blood she was losing. Zhang connected the dots and realized she was attacked by a shark. Despite her panic and fear, she yelled for help and to her luck, Donaldson was there. According to a report from the Florida Museum, around 47 unprovoked shark bites were reported worldwide in 2024. The term refers to an encounter wherein a shark attacks a person by surprise with no provocation from an individual.
There are other cases of shark bites on different grounds, which account for an investigation of around 88 attacks. Zhang was growing weak due to the massive amount of blood loss, to the point where she was becoming unconscious. Fortunately, Donaldson bravely entered the bloody water and pulled her out. By the time she was on shore, she was unconscious and had no energy to even hold on to Donaldson, but brave as he was, he was determined to bring her to safety. His partner quickly applied first aid with the materials she had on her.
A 15-inch wound had Zhang in a worrisome condition. She had to undergo surgery and get stitches and was conscious only hours later. Speaking of his mindset at the unprecedented time, Donaldson said, “I wasn’t thinking about the shark, I wasn’t thinking about my own safety — I just can’t watch this woman drown.” He knew well the importance of being astute in action and making a difference. “Either you watch someone drown or you go out and help them. A couple of seconds could mean someone’s life,” he remarked. “You saved my life. Words cannot express how thankful I am,” Zhang told Donaldson.