I battled the jaws of death and survived through dance

Off the coast of Knysna, Caleb Swanepoel paddled out on his surfboard to catch the last barrel of the day. But as the next waves swelled over the horizon, it revealed something ominous lurking in the depths. With only seconds to react, Swanepoel called to his brothers to get out. For him, it was already too late. The powerful jaws of a three-metre great white shark had latched onto him, flailing his body on the surface before dragging him under. When it finally released him, Swanepoel came up for breath, treading the thick, red water with only one leg. 

A drama and performance student at the University of Cape Town, Swanepoel relied on every part of his body to create movements that mesmerised his audience. After the attack, his dreams of becoming a performer were seemingly out of reach. “The thought of not being able to dance, move or act again was terrifying,” Swanepoel says. Determined to get back on stage, he summoned all his strength and embarked on the arduous road to recovery. Starting on crutches, he gradually regained his balance before learning to walk with a prosthetic leg – but he refused to stop there. 

The next few months were inundated with doctor’s appointments and physiotherapy in between ongoing university lectures. Swanepoel entered the spotlight again more determined than ever, and discovered the true value of dance. “I am able to unlock trauma in the body,” he says. Theatre became more than a passion, providing Swanepoel with an outlet to let go of the pain and loss of his past. “Movement is a step towards healing beyond our physical borders,” he says.

Now a graduate, Swanepoel continues to defy the odds, and has even got back on his surfboard. With unbridled tenacity, nothing can break the human spirit – not even the jaws of death.