'Feeling incredibly lucky to still have my leg': Kiwi social media influencer attacked by shark in Fiji
A New Zealand ocean enthusiast and social media influencer has been attacked by a shark in waters off Fiji.
Henry Gibbs’ lower right leg is understood to have been torn open during the attack, possibly a bull or whitetip shark, according to sources.
He has been recovering in hospital after four surgeries and a skin graft.
“[My] first dive in Fiji ended in a pretty nasty shark incident,” he wrote on social media today, six days after the attack.
“Feeling incredibly lucky to still have my leg, full use of my foot and to be on the mend.”
Gibbs said it was “looking like I’ll make a full recovery, which I’m hugely grateful for”.
“No hard feelings towards the shark. I was in its environment hunting its food. Wrong place, wrong time, and there are definitely a few lessons I’ll share when I post the footage in the hope it helps someone avoid ending up in the same situation and a bit on how to respond to it.
“For now, just feeling very lucky and with an even greater appreciation for life.”
It is understood Gibbs was spearfishing at the time of the shark attack.
He thanked friends and family for their support.
“The support has honestly meant a lot. Massive thanks to Colby and Dan, who got me out of the water and dealt with the wound so quickly, and to everyone involved afterwards.
“A special thank you to Dan, who was by my side through the whole ordeal, and of course Mum as well.”
A New Zealander in Fiji said they were at Port Denarau Marina when the man was taken by ambulance about 6pm on Sunday.
“He was taken to hospital ... A bad bite on the calf muscle. He had been spearfishing.”
The witness thought the shark might have been a whitetip. “They are usually non-aggressive. There may have been blood in the water from the spearfishing.”
Bull sharks have also been known to attack in Fiji.
Gibbs has a powerful social media following, with more than 105,000 followers on Instagram and almost 30,000 followers on Facebook.
He describes himself on his website as a “New Zealand-based content creator and ocean enthusiast with a passion for spearfishing, fishing, diving and adventure”.
In a post looking forward to 2026, he wrote: “Quit my corporate job a year ago to chase doing what I love”.
And on his website, he says: “Over the past few years, I’ve built an audience by sharing footage of what I love doing and my experiences on the water, from chasing kingfish and crayfish inshore to game fishing offshore, cooking and more.
“Alongside content creation, I currently work as a professional skipper based in Auckland, so spend most of my days on and days off on the water.
“My goal is simple, inspire people to get outdoors, make the most of what we have in New Zealand, or wherever you may be, and take advantage of the incredible oceans around us.”
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.
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