Shark Attack Survivor Says He Still Has Sleepless Nights 14 Years Later: 'The PTSD Will Always Be with Me' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Dave Pearson, a shark.Photo:WENDELL TEODORO/AFP via Getty; Getty

WENDELL TEODORO/AFP via Getty; Getty

Ashark attacksurvivor is speaking candidly about how he deals with the trauma of the incident over a decade later.

Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE, Pearson says he is “mostly okay” in the aftermath, “but I guess thePTSDwill always be with me, in some way or another.”

“I still try andsurf as much as I can, but there are times when things do not feel right, and I am too uncomfortable to stay in the ocean, especially if I see a shark,” he continues.

As for whether or not he hassleepless nightsover a decade after his attack, Pearson admits, “There are still times, particularly after there has been a serious attack. The closer to home, the more affect it can have.”

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Dave Pearson surfing.WENDELL TEODORO/AFP via Getty

WENDELL TEODORO/AFP via Getty

According to Pearson, the PTSD he suffers from “can manifest as anger, depression, frustration or hopelessness.”

Still, he says he is lucky, as his family is “really good at seeing I am doing it and support me through it.”

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Pearson also counts on fellow victims of shark attacks for support, including those in the private Facebook group he created, calledBite Club.

A shark (stock image).Dave Fleetham/Design Pics/Perspectives/Getty Images

Pearson says he also gets involved in other shark-centric situations not related specifically to his social media group.

“There are times when we conduct community engagement, or I reach out to families, after serious or fatal attacks,” he explains.

“I quite often speak with witnesses who are still in shock and dealing with trauma, trying to come to terms with what they witnessed,” Pearson adds of providing support to others affected. “These conversations can be very tough and can take me a few days to settle afterward.”

Pearson says he will also “get involved in discussions with people manufacturing shark deterrents and those involved in shark mitigation.”

“Many people come to me for advice, so I would like to be able to give them the best advice, or at least point them in the direction to find the best advice,” he explains to PEOPLE.

source: people.com