Dave Pearson to appear on Nine's Giving Life

Mr Pearson will appear on the Nine documentary series Giving Life to share his survival story after being attacked by a three-metre bull shark at Crowdy Head in 2011.

Fellow Bite Club member, Kevin Young, whose son Zac died after being attacked by a tiger shark north of Coffs Harbour in 2013, will also appear.

Both men will highlight the importance of donating blood to the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.

"The highest fatality rate of our group is related to blood loss," Mr Peason said.

"One in three Australians will need blood in their lifetime, yet only one in 30 donates."

Mr Pearson lost 40 per cent of his blood when he was attacked and now donated blood or plasma every fortnight.

"I know literally hundreds of people who are here only because of blood donations," he said.

For this reason he was urging everyone to get to their local Lifeblood donor centre to donate, citing the quick and convenient process associated with donating blood as even more reason to do it.

"Just do it. It's a nothing thing," he said.

"But if you met someone who's still here because of it, it's a whole different thing."

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Seven years after starting The Bite Club, Mr Pearson said the group had grown to over 300 members and was now represented all over the world.

Formed as a peer support group for shark attack survivors, The Bite Club now included people who had been attacked by crocodiles, lions and hippopotamuses.

Mr Pearson believed it was the only group of its kind in the world.

"It's not a nice way to originally meet someone, but everyone who's been through it is looking for answers," he said.

The Bite Club also established a charity in 2016 called Beyond the Bite, which aimed to cover the costs of people who'd been involved in shark attacks. You can donate to it here.

Mr Pearson and Mr Young will appear on Giving Life at 1pm on Saturday, December 28.

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