‘Hero’ Bystander Jumps into Ocean to Save Woman from Vivious Shark Attack

A man is being hailed as a hero after he jumped into shark-infested waters to save a woman from a vicious bull shark attack.

In a new interview with 60 Minutes Australia released Saturday, April 26, Blake Donaldson shared the heart-stopping moment he leapt into the water to rescue Mangyon “Mani” Zhang.

Zhang, 57, had been swimming about 10 meters from shore at Gunyah Beach in Bundeena, Australia, on March 7 when a bull shark clamped down on her right leg. She told 60 Minutes that she didn’t even realize she had been bitten at first, thinking she had been stung.

“I got a very eerie feeling that something had passed me,” Zhang recalled. “I was so scared. I said, ‘Oh, what’s that?’ Then I just saw lots and lots of blood, and the water became more and more red. I was terrified.”

When Zhang realized the severity of her injury, she froze, afraid the shark might return. After a minute, she screamed for help — a cry that Donaldson and his partner, Ellen Melchert, heard from the shore.

Without hesitation, Donaldson plunged into the bloody water.

“I just had to jump in,” he said. “The fight-or-flight kicks in, and I made the decision. Sure, there could still be a shark, but my reaction was, ‘I just have to save this woman.'”

Donaldson said he wasn’t thinking about his own safety. “Either you watch someone drown, or you go out and help them. A couple of seconds could mean someone’s life.”

After reaching Zhang and pulling her to shore, Melchert quickly stepped in to administer first aid. Zhang, struggling to stay conscious, thought only of wanting to see her partner Maria one more time.

Paramedics rushed to the scene, and intensive care paramedic Marco Aielli said Zhang had lost a “catastrophic amount” of blood, her blood pressure dangerously low.

Zhang later woke up after surgery, shocked to still be alive — and even more grateful that doctors were able to save her leg.

More than a month later, Zhang reunited with Donaldson and Melchert to thank them personally.

“You don’t have to thank me,” Donaldson said modestly, but Zhang insisted, “You saved my life. Words cannot express how thankful I am.”

“We’re just so glad you’re okay,” Melchert added warmly.

“They say, ‘You’re a hero,'” Donaldson said. “I don’t think about it that way — but when it hits you, you realize you really did save someone.”