SYDNEY, Australia (12 Feb 2009) — Paul de Gelder was on the surface of the water, on his back kicking, when the shark attacked. The police diver with Able Seaman de Gelder, 31, was doing the same counter-terrorism exercise at Woolloomooloo Bay in Sydney Harbour on Wednesday when he heard screams. Detective Inspector Glenn Finnis from NSW Police Marine Area Command said such an attack was a concern but it would not deter police divers from using the harbour. He said police divers carried sonar devices but the shark was not detected. Able Seaman de Gelder has lost his right hand above the wrist and may lose his right leg but was in "high spirits", his family said. His brother, Travis, 29, said Able Seaman de Gelder was coping "very well mentally" and was "a very strong person". "The family are very relieved that Paul is alive," he said. "He had some pretty serious injuries … He's handling it quite well at the moment. The medical staff have been fantastic. "He loves diving; it's a big part of his life. This will come as quite a shock to him." The shark biologist for the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Vic Peddemors, said it was too early to know the type or the size of the shark that bit Able Seaman de Gelder, as the diver had not yet spoken to him. But the severity of the injures meant it was probably a large one. "There's really only three species that would consider biting a human - that would be the bull shark, the tiger shark and the great white, so the likelihood is that it would be one of those three," Dr Peddemors said. Able Seaman Gelder was in intensive care last night, in a serious but stable condition, a spokesman for St Vincent's Hospital said. He underwent a second operation yesterday. The Sydney Harbour Swim Classic will go ahead next month despite the attack. by PETER HAWKINS and DYLAN WELCH | 
