Cape Town - It has only been two months since a shark bit off his right leg, but Caleb Swanepoel has already been back in the ocean, continued with his drama studies at UCT and learnt to walk again.
On Thursday he tried on a X3, one of the most technologically advanced prosthetic legs in the world, and was soon striding around with the help of a medical team at Vincent Pallotti Hospital.
The 20-year-old – who had been body surfing with his brothers Joshua, 22, and Alexander, 19, at Buffels Bay near Knysna – lost his leg when attacked by a shark.
Swanepoel said: “I’m going to have to teach myself to become more patient.
“I’ve lost a lot of weight so don’t feel as strong. There is still a lot I can’t do for myself but I have been fortunate to have the support of my family.”
The dramatic attack took place off Murphy’s Point and was witnessed from the shore by his mother Tracy and sisters Rebekah,18, and Robin, 12.
When Swanepoel spotted the two- to three-metre great white, he yelled a warning to his brothers and headed for shore but the shark caught him, and ripped off his leg just above the knee.
“It was so quick, just a blur. It came back and bit into my brother (Alexander’s) flipper. It nearly got his toes.”
The shark came back a third time and bit Swanepoel on his left leg, leaving lacerations and chipping his knee cap.
He learnt afterwards from doctors that his femoral artery had clotted and closed.
“It was the miracle that saved me. Otherwise I would have bled to death on the beach.”
He was airlifted to a hospital in George, where he spent 10 days. Afterwards, he spent a week recovering at “the family home” in the Karoo town of Prince Albert before returning to Cape Town to resume his studies.
“I thought initially I wouldn’t be able to carry on but Jayson (Chin), a prosthetist at Vincent Pallotti, encouraged me to continue. I was quite taken aback but glad I have.”
His mother has relocated temporarily to Cape Town to “help him out while he continues with rehabilitation”.
Last weekend, Swanepoel swam at Fish Hoek beach, the first time back in the sea since his attack.
It was also the beach where Swanepoel’s father Luc Swanepoel’s cousin, Lloyd Skinner, was attacked and killed by a “huge shark while swimming in 2010”.
Swanepoel has been in touch with fellow shark attack survivor and paralympic medallist, Achmat Hassiem.
“He called me when I was in the hospital and said he wanted to offer his support. He said when he lost his leg, Natalie du Toit had called him to offer encouragement, which had meant a lot.”
Swanepoel is also a keen runner and tennis player and is determined to remain active.
On Thursday his prosthetist Theo Kriel fitted Swanepoel with the X3 leg for a 30-day trial period.
Kriel said the X3 was the be best option because Swanepoel “was so active”.
It is waterproof and computer controlled, and thus able to switch between different activity modes.
It costs about R1.4 million but family friend Zelia Mullins has started a fundraising campaign to help pay for the costs.
People can donate via Swanepoel’s Facebook site or deposit into the Caleb Swanepoel Support Fund, Nedbank, current, branch code 198765, Account no: 1107515017.
Cape Argus