“Sharkman” Mike Rutzen badly injured in car crash
Mark Rutzen, “Sharkman,” holds the fin of a great white shark. Rutzen was badly injured in a car accident in Mozambique this week. The crash took the life of his girlfriend.
South African "Sharkman" Mike Rutzen was badly injured Tuesday in a car crash in Mozambique.
The deadly crash took the life of his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Castella who died at the scene, reported il Risveglio.
Rutzen, a shark expert, was the host of a show on Discovery Channel called "Sharkman."
The fearless host often swam with sharks and even rode the waters holding their fins.
More from GlobalPost: Man drags shark into water after it swims near children (VIDEO)
He was also featured on the History Channel show "Superhumans," in which he was presented as a master of sharks.
In March 2010, he was on American television show 60 minutes discussing sharks with Anderson Cooper.
Rutzen was a proponent of shark conservation efforts.
The Cape Town native is said to be in serious condition after the crash with a punctured lung and broken ribs, reported ioL news.
The couple were on holiday in Mozambique but were airlifted back to South Africa.
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