A teenager, who was attacked by a shark in Far North Queensland last year, has made a stunning recovery after months in hospital and multiple surgeries. SBS travelled to Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, where Samuel Nai is back on country, practising his culture to help him heal.
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TRANSCRIPT
On the golden beaches of Waiben/Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, seven boys dance to the beat of a long traditional drum.
Among them 15-year-old Samuel Nai, carrying a trumpet shell signifying a deep connection with land and sea.
Seven months ago, Sam's life was up ended when he was bitten by a shark while swimming near the wharf.
He managed to swim 20 metres to shore and told his friends to call for help.
The bite, described like 'his left side was missing' narrowly avoided any organs.
The teenager spent four months in hospital and endured 24 surgeries.
Joey Laifoo is Sam's cultural dance instructor.
"We had to fly away I was in, ready to go over to Japan to dance over there and on the way back we heard about it. It was a sad time for us. We didn't know what was happening and stuff, then it worked out. He's back here with us and I think that's amazing to see that after such a big event like that.”
Joey runs Island Stars which showcases Torres Strait culture through dance, song and storytelling.
It offers a space for boys to re-connect with culture, totems and language.
"And that's why we do it, a better understanding of what's out there, what you can utilise and what you can pass down to your survival up in the Torres Strait and utilising that to go down south so that's very important for us to capture all of our culture because it's our identity, our language is our identity. Our stories is identity. We lose that. We don't have no identity. So actually, practising it, and implementing it into our everyday life.
Sam was new to the group and got involved six months before the shark attack.
He returned home in March.
"Within two days he was at our first dance training back here engaging with us and wanted to continue his practice in culture. So, someone to go through that kind of experience and within two days of training, come back and want to learn about our culture, then performing two weeks later. So that's showing you how a young person is really dedicated to know about his culture. An event like that, that happens you know people are rehabilitating themselves, he uses his culture to heal him. Where he comes from his ancestors help him through his path.”
"So, I know my background, where I come from, and my tribe.”
Doctors at Townsville University Hospital have described Sam's survival as extraordinary.
After consulting the Australian Shark Incident Database, surgeon Dr Brendan O’Connor believes it may be the most extensive shark related injury ever survived by a human.
Dr O'Connor says Sam's injuries were mere millimetres from being fatal, causing the loss of large amounts of tissue, muscle, fat, and skin on the left side of his abdomen.
For Sam, it's tested his connection with the ocean - he hasn't been in the water since.
But he's learning about his totems, deepening his understanding of sea country.
"My totems is the crocodile, the shark and the turtle, green turtle.”
Sam's family say what happened to him shouldn't define him.
"It taught me ... when you go diving you have to go diving at low tide."
And he's still able to do what he loves
Joey: "Why do you have to dance hard?”
Sam: “So, you feel good when you dance.”
Joey: “That's it.”
Reporter Josh van Staden travelled to Thursday Island with support from the Pulitzer Centre
